Ride

David Allan Coe

About Ride

"The Ride" is a song written by Gary Gentry and J. B. Detterline Jr., and recorded by American country singer-songwriter David Allan Coe. It was released in February 1983 as the lead single from the album, Castles in the Sand. The song spent 19 weeks on the Billboard country singles charts, reaching a peak of number four and peaked at number two on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart.


Year:
1995
3:02
153 

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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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David Allan Coe

David Allan Coe (born September 6, 1939) is an American outlaw country music singer who achieved popularity in the 1970s and 1980s. As a singer, his biggest hits were "Mona Lisa Lost Her Smile," "The Ride," "You Never Even Called Me by My Name," "She Used to Love Me a Lot," and "Longhaired Redneck." His best-known compositions are the No. 1 successes "Would You Lay With Me (In a Field of Stone)," which was covered by Tanya Tucker; and "Take This Job and Shove It," which was later covered by Johnny Paycheck that was later a hit movie (both Coe and Paycheck had minor parts in the film). more »

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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.
Release
This song was released in April 1983 as one of the lead singles from his album "Castles in the Sand".
Chart Success
"Ride" was highly successful on the charts, peaking at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart that same year.
Song Theme
The song's lyrics are a vivid narrative of the Old West, in which a cowboy laments his troubled past and his long, arduous journey.
Production and Label
The song was recorded under the record label Columbia and produced by the well-known record industry figure Billy Sherrill.
Album Performance
The 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.
Tribute to Hank Williams
In 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.
Unique Storytelling
This song is highly regarded for its original storytelling, where the protagonist encounters a ghostly figure who turns out to be the late Hank Williams.
Song Legacy
"The Ride", even after its release, retains its popularity and is considered one of David Allan Coe's signature songs.
Ghostly Influence
The 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".
Live Performances
David Allan Coe continued to include "The Ride" in many of his live sets, attesting to its enduring popularity among fans.
Cover Versions
This 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.
Inspiration
The song has been mentioned as an inspiration for many young country artists for its epic storytelling and deep emotional resonance.
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.
Fascinating Lyrics
The 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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    Ride

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