Ride
David Allan Coe
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When I was thumbing from Montgomery I had my guitar on my back When a stranger stopped beside me in an antique Cadillac He was dressed like 1950 Half drunk and hollow eyed He said it's a long walk to Nashville Would you like a ride? Son Well, I sat down in the front seat He turned on the radio And them sad old songs coming outta them speakers was solid country gold Then I noticed the stranger was ghost white pale When I asked him for a light And I knew there was something strange about this ride He said, "Mister, can you make folks cry when you play and sing? Have you paid your dues? Can you moan the blues? Can you bend them guitar strings?" He said, "Boy, can you make folks feel what you feel inside? 'Cause if you're big star bound let me warn you it's a long hard ride" Then he cried just south of Nashville And he turned that car around He said, "This is where you get off, boy 'Cause I'm goin' back to Alabam" And as I stepped outta that Cadillac I said, "Mister, many thanks" He said, "You don't have to call me mister, mister The whole world calls me Hank" He said, "Mister, can you make folks cry when you play and sing? Have you paid your dues? Can you moan the blues? Can you bend them guitar strings?" He said, "Boy, can you make folks feel what you feel inside? 'Cause if you're big star bound let me warn you it's a long hard ride" He said, "Drifter can you make folks cry when you play and sing? Have you paid your dues, can you moan the blues? Can you bend them, guitar strings?" He said, "Boy can you make folks feel what you feel inside? 'Cause if you're big star bound let me warn you, it's a long, hard ride" If you're big star bound let me warn you it's a long, hard ride
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Written by: Gary Gentry, J.B. Detterline
Lyrics © NEWWRITERS MUSIC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
15 facts about this song
Songwriter"Ride" is a song written and performed by American country music artist David Allan Coe.
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ReleaseThis song was released in April 1983 as one of the lead singles from his album "Castles in the Sand".
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Chart Success"Ride" was highly successful on the charts, peaking at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart that same year.
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Song ThemeThe song's lyrics are a vivid narrative of the Old West, in which a cowboy laments his troubled past and his long, arduous journey.
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Production and LabelThe song was recorded under the record label Columbia and produced by the well-known record industry figure Billy Sherrill.
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Album PerformanceThe album "Castles in the Sand" also featured another hit single "The Ride", and it peaked at number 8 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.
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Tribute to Hank WilliamsIn the song, Coe pays tribute to legendary country singer Hank Williams. The song hints that it is the spirit of Hank Williams passing on life wisdom.
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Unique StorytellingThis song is highly regarded for its original storytelling, where the protagonist encounters a ghostly figure who turns out to be the late Hank Williams.
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Song Legacy"The Ride", even after its release, retains its popularity and is considered one of David Allan Coe's signature songs.
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Ghostly InfluenceThe spectral figure in the song offers the protagonist advice on the country music industry, suggesting that "if you're big star-bound, let me warn ya, it's a long, hard ride".
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Live PerformancesDavid Allan Coe continued to include "The Ride" in many of his live sets, attesting to its enduring popularity among fans.
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Cover VersionsThis song has been covered by several artists over the years, keeping its legacy alive. Some notable covers include versions by Tim McGraw and Hank Williams Jr.
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InspirationThe song has been mentioned as an inspiration for many young country artists for its epic storytelling and deep emotional resonance.
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Place in Country lore"The Ride" is considered an integral part of country music lore due to its supernatural themes and reference to Hank Williams, a metaphoric tribute to the price of fame in the music industry.
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Fascinating LyricsThe song is famous for its twist ending, as the mysterious hitchhiker reveals his identity as Hank Williams, exclaiming "You don't have to call me mister, mister. The whole world called me Hank". This lyric has since become iconic.
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Citation
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"Ride Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 12 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/1272191/David+Allan+Coe/Ride>.
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