Terraplane Blues

While Robert Johnson is now revered as a mythical pioneer, during his short life he only had one actual, regional hit: "Terraplane Blues." The song used the mechanics of a notoriously fast Hudson Terraplane automobile as an extended, highly explicit sexual metaphor. Johnson sang about flashing lights, grinding gears, and checking the oil, all delivered with a knowing, rhythmic bounce. The clever double-entendres made it a massive favorite in southern juke joints, moving around 5,000 copies and putting real money in the wandering musician's pocket.