The Gaslight Anthem, a New Jersey-based rock band, is well-known for staying true to the ideals of classic rock, with catchy hooks and well-crafted lyrics. The song "Old White Lincoln" further solidifies the group's connection with all things classic. They are likely referencing the 1955 Lincoln Capri, which was voted the safest car of the year by Car Life Magazine, according to ConceptCarz.com.
The car was made as both a hard top and a convertible, but the song clearly points to the latter in the line, "like a dream I remember from an easier time, with the top rolled down on a Saturday night." Anyone who still owns one of these cars has likely put a lot of effort into car maintenance, such as checking on their brakes, to keep it on the road.
The members of Gaslight Anthem may love old cars and rock and roll, but one classic rocker loves them just as much. Bruce Springsteen finds it hard to resist joining the band on stage for a performance of the title track of their second album, The '59 Sound. This is the same album where singer Brian Fallon croons about the '55 Lincoln.
During an interview with music company Gibson, Fallon mentioned that his intention was to capture the youthful excitement in the music of the 50s.