The song came out long before I was born, but I remember hearing it in the back seat of my parent’s car on the oldies station and instantly feeling that there was something special and different about this song from all the other “golden oldies” they used to play during the 80s rock n roll revival era. I had no idea what the lyrics were about, but the emotions, and the sense of mourning in the song were still apparent, and of course the refrain was something you couldn’t help wanting to sing along with, even though I had no idea what a “levee” was, or why they were driving their Chevys there :D
Depression for the depressed. It's big business and you've been had.