The Ride
Copyright Doc Pablo, July 2001

First half of each verse, and chorus use the same C-F riff. It's
played quickly, lifting off the middle finger for each chord with a *:
C - C* C - C* C C* F - F* F - F* F F*

C                              F
Sun went down three hours ago, the pavement's steaming hot
C                              F
Randy chills outside the Dairy Queen
C                            F
Feet up on a picnic bench in jeans and halter top
C                                  G
Checking out the bikers, Lord they try to look so mean

          Dm                              Am
(And she) dreams about the open road, she dreams about The Ride
Dm                               Am
Wonders how that kind of freedom feels
            Dm                           Am  
(And she's) saving up her chances now so she won't be denied
C                                   G
Counting days and pennies til she's got a set of wheels

C                                 F
And she can ride - Not like she's ever asked for much
              C             F
Just say "goodbye" - Blow a kiss and pop the clutch
              C                     F
Don't ask her why - She'll tell you anyone can see:
    Dm               F                 C    F   C   F
The Ride was all her life was meant to be

I still remember Randy's dad when we were twenty one
Tank of borrowed gas in our machine
Pack nothing but our sleeping bags, go looking for some fun
Headed down the highway to some place we'd never seen

(And we) wondered how we'd ever learn to live without The Ride
Wondered how we'd learn to live in place
The calling of the road was something I could never hide
Never thought I'd live to see that look in Randy's face

Because we'd ride - Like a shadow 'cross the land
Just say "goodbye" - My mom could never understand
You by my side - No way that I could make her see
The Ride was all my life was meant to be

(spoken interlude)

It's over twenty years now since I've seen the open road
But some nights I still dream about The Ride
I've got a Honda minivan, I got no mortgage owed
Two kids in college for my daily dose of pride

(But you) caught me at the door again with that lost look in my eyes
You've been there too, girl, I know you know the pain
I got no obligations, you've got nowhere you've got to be
C'mon and walk through that door with me, we'll hit the road again

And we can ride - Like it was twenty years ago
No more goodbyes - The kids don't even have to know
Don't ask them why - Don't care if anyone can see
The Ride was all our life was meant to...

Ride - Like a shadow 'cross the land
Don't start to cry - C'mon girl, just take my hand
You by my side - I tell you, anyone can see
The Ride was all our life was meant to be