So I don't end up in copyright hell, this image is cropped from the original of
Clumsy Music's BigEyes CD.
caveat emptor: Listen to these songs before you go nuts on iTunes; your taste may not extend as wide as the range of musical genres represented in this list.
Skip the chatter, just take me to the list of songs.
I must thank John Douglas, who is impatiently waiting for the snow to melt in Colorado so he can ride his new friend, a 1999 Vulcan Classic. He asked if I listen to music while riding, which reminded me that I've been meaning to post a list of motorcycle songs. This list originated from Ms. BluePoof's posting in 2006 - she identified several songs that she had loaded on her iPod. Her readers offered many more suggestions which are provided here, and I've added more to the list.
So, to iPod or not? It is tempting to put music in my helmet but ... I know myself, and I probably won't do it anytime soon. In the car, certain artists and certain songs drive my gas mileage to hell. I stop paying attention to the road, I get in a groove and the pedal goes to the metal. I can just see me trying to explain to some cop that I was listening to Anne-Sophie Mutter playing Sarasate's Carmen fantasy and that's why I was speeding. The cop takes a listen and hears Billy Idol giving a Rebel Yell ... no, I don't think the iPod is a good idea.
That said, I'm looking at bike to bike communication systems, and in another year I think I'll be springing for the helmets and electronics that will enable me to tell Peter in a calm voice that we really do need to exit soon or I'm going to burst. That system will probably have an iPod interface and who knows, by that time I may have an on-the-road playlist that won't cause me to whack open the throttle. (But then, what's the point? Yeah, yeah, I know.)
I did a little research and figured out that the system I wanted plus the helmets would run about $1200. The system I was looking at is the AutoComm system. I didn't want to say anything about it because I don't have personal experience to offer you.
Reader David Gill sends these words of experience:
I have the same maniacal tendencies related to speed, acceleration, and music. After going to some lengths (and expense) to be able to hear my mp3s over the road noise and using earplugs, it's not for me.
I have experimented with a number of 'systems' including self-assembled pieces and complete systems on motorcycles and snowmobiles. I finally settled on what many others suggested I start with. I use AutoComm Pro system. Not cheap, but if I had started with this system, it would have been cheaper than all of my failed efforts. Other things work, but for bike-to-bike, bike to passenger, and other inputs like music, radar detector, cell phone, CB, FRS, what have you, they are the best voice controlled system for your money.
I have settled on the AutoComm system and have inputs for Cell phone on auto answer, GPS, and two way radio. I gave up on radar detectors years ago and as for music, see above. I don't power the AutoComm from the bike's battery, the unit and the power source is in the tank bag, but I do power the GPS and two-way radios off the bike. I had some noise issues (fan, spark noise) that I eliminated with an RF filter from a high end stereo store.
If you do decide to listen to that iPod, you'll need an in-line auxiliary amplifier as the output isn't powerful enough to overcome road noise with ear plugs.
Motorcycle songs
Oh! says Red Molly to James, "That's a fine motorbike.
A girl could feel special on any such like"
Says James to Red Molly, "My hat's off to you
It's a Vincent Black Lightning, 1952.
And I've seen you at the corners and cafes it seems
Red hair and black leather, my favourite scheme"
And he pulled her on behind and down to Boxhill
they did ride
Oh says James to Red Molly, "Here's a ring for your right
hand
But I'll tell you in earnest I'm a dangerous man.
For I've fought with the law since I was seventeen,
I robbed many a man to get my Vincent machine.
Now I'm 21 years, I might make 22
And I don't mind dying, but for the love of you.
And if fate should break my stride
Then I'll give you my Vincent to ride"
"Come down, come down, Red Molly" called Sergeant McRae
"For they've taken young James Adie for armed robbery.
Shotgun blast hit his chest, left nothing inside.
Oh come down, Red Molly to his dying bedside"
When she came to the hospital, there wasn't much left
He was running out of road, he was running out of breath
But he smiled to see her cry
He said "I'll give you my Vincent to ride"
Says James "In my opinion, there's nothing in this world
Beats a '52 Vincent and a red headed girl.
Now Nortons and Indians and Greeves won't do
Ah, they don't have a soul like a Vincent 52"
Oh he reached for her hand and he slipped her the keys
Said "I've got no further use for these.
I see angels on Ariels in leather and chrome,
Swooping down from heaven to carry me home."
And he gave her one last kiss and died
And he gave her his Vincent to ride
"As The Rush Comes", Motorcycle
[If you're into techno or trance at all, check out "As The Rush Comes" by Motorcycle. It doesn't explicitly mention motorcycles but it certainly describes the riding experience.]
Traveling somewhere, could be anywhere
There's a coldness in the air but I don't care
We drift deeper into sound
Life goes on
We drift deeper
Into the sound feeling strong
So bring it on
So bring it on
Embrace me
Surround me as the rush comes
Embrace me
Surround me as the rush comes
Embrace me
Surround me as the rush comes
Oh embrace me
Surround me as the rush comes
So bring it on
So bring it on
"Bad Motor Scooter", Sammy Hagar, Montrose/a>
If you get lonely on your daddy's farm
Just remember I don't live too far.
And there's a red bridge that arcs the bay, yeah
You'll be at my place in less that a day.
So get on your bad motor scooter and ride
Up over to my place and stay all night.
First thing in the morning we'll be feeling all right
So get on your bad motor scooter and ride.
Ooh, the last I seen your face
I swore that no one would take your place.
Now since you've been gone I've been feelin' bad,
yeah
I'd come out to your place (but)
I'm afraid of your dad. So you...
Ride, ride, ride.
Come on baby, ooh yeah.
Crank it on up!
"The Ballad of Easy Rider", Roger McGuinn
The river flows
It flows to the sea
Wherever that river goes
That's where I want to be
Flow river flow
Let your waters wash down
Take me from this road
To some other town
All he wanted
Was to be free
And that's the way
It turned out to be
Flow river flow
Let your waters wash down
Take me from this road
To some other town
Flow river flow
Past the shaded tree
Go river, go
Go to the sea
Flow to the sea
The river flows
It flows to the sea
Wherever that river goes
That's where I want to be
Flow river flow
Let your waters wash down
Take me from this road
To some other town
I'm gonna hit the highway like a
battering ram, on a silver and black phantom bike
When the metal is hot and the engine is hungry, and we're all about to see the
light....
I can see myself, tearing up the road faster than any other
boy has ever gone
And my skin is rough but my soul is ripe
And no one's gonna stop me now, I gotta make my escape
But I can't stop thinking of you
And I never see the sudden curve til it's way too late
No I never see the sudden curve til it's way too late
Then I'm dying on the bottom of a pit in the blazing sun,
Torn and twisted at the foot of a burning bike
And I think somebody somewhere must be tolling a bell
And the last thing I see is my heart, still beating and breaking out of my body
And flying away like a bat out of hell
"Black denim trousers", Cheers (1955)
He wore black denim trousers and motorcycle boots
And a black leather jacket with an eagle on the back
He had a hopped-up 'cicle that took off like a gun
That fool was the terror of Highway 101
Well, he never washed his face and he never combed his hair
He had axle grease imbedded underneath his fingernails
On the muscle of his arm was a red tattoo
A picture of a heart saying "Mother, I love you"
He had a pretty girlfriend by the name of Mary Lou
But he treated her just like he treated all the rest
And everybody pitied her and everybody knew
He loved that doggone motorcycle best
He wore black denim trousers and motorcycle boots
And a black leather jacket with an eagle on the back
He had a hopped-up 'cicle that took off like a gun
That fool was the terror of Highway 101
Mary Lou, poor girl, she pleaded and she begged him not to leave
She said "I've got a feeling if you ride tonight I'll grieve"
But her tears were shed in vain and her every word was lost
In the rumble of an engine and the smoke from his exhaust
Then he took off like the Devil and there was fire in his eyes!!
He said "I'll go a thousand miles before the sun can rise."
But he hit a screamin' diesel that was California-bound
And when they cleared the wreckage, all they found
Was his black denim trousers and motorcycle boots
And a black leather jacket with an eagle on the back
But they couldn't find the 'cicle that took off like a gun
And they never found the terror of High way 1 oh 1
"Born To Be Wild", Steppenwolf
Get your motor runnin'
Head out on the highway
Lookin' for adventure
And whatever comes our way
Yeah Darlin' go make it happen
Take the world in a love embrace
Fire all of your guns at once
And explode into space
I like smoke and lightning
Heavy metal thunder
Racin' with the wind
And the feelin' that I'm under
Yeah Darlin' go make it happen
Take the world in a love embrace
Fire all of your guns at once
And explode into space
Like a true nature's child
We were born, born to be wild
We can climb so high
I never wanna die
Born to be wild
Born to be wild
"Born to Run", Bruce Springsteen
In the day we sweat it out on the streets of a runaway American dream
At night we ride through mansions of glory on suicide machines
Sprung from cages out on highway 9,
Chrome wheeled, fuel injected and steppin' out over the line....
...baby I'm just a scared and lonely rider
But I gotta find out how it feels
I want to know if love is wild, girl I want to know if love is real
"Eye of the Hurricane", David Wilcox
Tank is full, switch is on
Night is warm, cops are gone
Rocket bike is all her own
It's called a hurricane
She told me once it's quite a ride
It's shaped so there's this place inside
Where if you're moving you can hide
Safe within the rain
She wants to run away
But there's nowhere that she can go
Nowhere the pain won't come again
But she can hide
Hide in the pouring rain
She rides the eye of the hurricane
Tell the truth, explain to me
How you got this need for speed
She laughed and said "It might just be
The next best thing to love."
Hope is gone and she confessed
When you lay your dream to rest
You can get what's second best
But it's hard to get enough
She wants to run away
But there's nowhere that she can go
Nowhere the pain won't come again
But she can hide
Hide in the pouring rain
She rides the eye of the hurricane
We saw her ride so fast last night
Racing by a flash of light
Riding quick, the street was dark
A shining truck she thought was parked
It blocked her path, stopped her heart
But not the hurricane
She saw her chance to slip the trap
There was just the room to pass in back
But then it moved, closed the gap
She never felt the pain
She wants to run away
But there's nowhere that she can go
Nowhere the pain won't come again
But she can hide
Hide in the pouring rain
She rides the eye of the hurricane
She rides the eye of a hurricane
Pack up all those phantoms
Shoulder that invisible load
Keep on riding North and West
Haunting that wilderness road
Like a ghost rider
Carry all those phantoms
Through bitter wind and stormy skies
From the desert to the mountain
From the lowest low to the highest high
Like a ghost rider
Keep on riding North and West
Then circle South and East
Show me beauty but there is no peace
For the ghost rider
Shadows on the road behind
Shadows on the road ahead
Nothing can stop you now
There's a shadow on the road behind
There's a shadow on the road ahead
Nothing can stop you now
Sunrise in the mirror
Lightens that invisible load
Riding on a nameless quest
Haunting that wilderness road
Like a ghost rider
Just an escape artist
Racing against the night
A wandering hermit
Racing toward the light
From the white sands
To the canyon lands
To the redwood stands
To the barren lands
Sunrise on the road behind
Sunset on the road ahead
There's nothing to stop you now
Nothing can stop you now
Alan Vega. Suicide. Ghostrider. Ghostrider.
Ghostrider, motorcycle hero.
Ghostrider, motorcycle hero.
Baby, baby, baby, baby, he's blazing away!
Like the star, star, stars in the universe, yeah.
Baby, baby, baby, he's looking so cute, yeah!
Riding around in a blue jumpsuit, yeah.
Baby, baby, baby, baby, he's screaming the truth!
America is killing its youth.
I see them trying, dying, choking, drowning, going down, going down.
I see you dying, dying.
Oh. You don't wanna break apart Ghostrider's heart.
He's riding through your town with his head on fire.
He's riding through your town with his head on fire.
Halo burning. Eyes are crying. Halo buring. Eyes are crying.
Ghostrider, Ghostrider, Ghostrider, Ghostrider keep riding.
Never stop riding.
Hey, hey, don't forget to burn, don't forget to burn.
Burn with fire. With fire, fire, fire, fire!
With fire! Yeah!
Ghost rider motorcycle hero
Baby, baby, baby, baby, he's blazing away!
Like the star, star, stars in the universe, yeah.
Baby, baby, baby, he's looking so cute, yeah!
Riding around in a blue jumpsuit, yeah.
Baby, baby, baby, baby, he's screaming the truth!
America is killing its youth.
I see them trying, dying, choking, drowning, going down, going down.
I see you dying, dying.
Oh. You don't wanna break apart Ghostrider's heart.
He's riding through your town with his head on fire.
He's riding through your town with his head on fire.
Halo burning. Eyes are crying. Halo buring. Eyes are crying.
Ghostrider, Ghostrider, Ghostrider, Ghostrider keep riding.
Never stop riding.
Hey, hey, don't forget to burn, don't forget to burn.
Burn with fire. With fire, fire, fire, fire!
With fire! Yeah!
ghostrider, motorcycle hero
bebebebebebebe he's lookin' so cute
sneakin' round round round in a blue jumpsuit
ghostrider motorcycle hero
bebebebebebebe he's a-blazin' away
packin' stars stars stars in the universe
ghostrider motorcycle hero
bebebebebebebe he's a-screamin' the truth
america america is killin' its youth
bebebebebebebe he's a-sceamin' away
america america is killin' its youth
america america is killin' its youth
ghostrider
ghostrider
"Ghost Rider in the Sky", Johnny Cash
An old cowboy went riding out one dark and windy day
Upon a ridge he rested as he went along his way
When all at once a mighty herd of red eyed cows he saw
A-plowing through the ragged sky and up the cloudy draw
Their brands were still on fire and their hooves were made of steel
Their horns were black and shiny and their hot breath he could feel
A bolt of fear went through him as they thundered through the sky
For he saw the Riders coming hard and he heard their mournful cry
Yippie yi Ohhhhh
Yippie yi yaaaaay
Ghost Riders in the sky
Their faces gaunt, their eyes were blurred, their shirts all soaked with sweat
He's riding hard to catch that herd, but he ain't caught 'em yet
'Cause they've got to ride forever on that range up in the sky
On horses snorting fire
As they ride on hear their cry
As the riders loped on by him he heard one call his name
If you want to save your soul from Hell a-riding on our range
Then cowboy change your ways today or with us you will ride
Trying to catch the Devil's herd, across these endless skies
Yippie yi Ohhhhh
Yippie yi yaaaaay
Ghost Riders in the sky
Ghost Riders in the sky
Ghost Riders in the sky
"Highway in the Wind", Arlo Guthrie
Sail with me into the unknown void that has no end,
swept along the open road that don't seem to begin.
Come with me and love me, babe. I may be back again.
Meantime I'll keep sailing down this highway in the wind.
Evenings just begin the day, and follows with the night.
To love you and to be with you, say that it's alright.
Love me while you have me, babe. I may be back again.
Meantime I'll keep sailing down this highway in the wind.
There's times I feel like goin',
times I want to stay.
Times that I ain't feeling well. Times I feel ok.
Now you have time to love me, babe. You may have time again.
Meantime I keep sailing down this highway in the wind.
The fortune teller tells me that I have somewhere to go.
I look and try to understand. I wonder how she knows.
So I must be going now. I'm losing time, my friend.
Looking for a rainbow down this highway in the wind.
"IronHorse/Born To Lose, Motorhead
He rides a road, that don't have no end,
An open highway, without any bends,
Tramp and his stallion, alone in a dream,
Proud in his colour, as the chromium gleams,
On Iron Horse he flies, on Iron Horse he gladly dies,
Iron Horse his wife, Iron Horse his life
He lives his life, he's living it fast,
Don't try to hide, when the dice have been cast,
He rides a whirlwind, that cuts to the bone,
Loaded forever, and righteously stoned,
On Iron Horse he flies, on Iron Horse he gladly dies,
Iron Horse his wife, Iron Horse his life
Yeah, slide it to me!
One day one day, they'll go for the sun,
Together they'll slide, on the eternal run,
Wasted forever, on speed bikes and booze,
Yeah tramp and the brothers, all born to lose,
On Iron Horse he flies, on Iron Horse he gladly dies,
Iron Horse his wife, Iron Horse his life
"Leader of the Pack", the Shangri-Las
[Spoken:]
Is she really going out with him?
Well, there she is. Let's ask her.
Betty, is that Jimmy's ring you're wearing?
Mm-hmm
Gee, it must be great riding with him
Is he picking you up after school today?
Uh-uh
By the way, where'd you meet him?
I met him at the candy store
He turned around and smiled at me
You get the picture? (yes, we see)
That's when I fell for (the leader of the pack)
My folks were always putting him down (down, down)
They said he came from the wrong side of town
(whatcha mean when ya say that he came from the wrong side of town?)
They told me he was bad
But I knew he was sad
That's why I fell for (the leader of the pack)
One day my dad said, "Find someone new"
I had to tell my Jimmy we're through
(whatcha mean when ya say that ya better go find somebody new?)
He stood there and asked me why
But all I could do was cry
I'm sorry I hurt you (the leader of the pack)
[Spoken:]
He sort of smiled and kissed me goodbye
The tears were beginning to show
As he drove away on that rainy night
I begged him to go slow
But whether he heard, I'll never know
Look out! Look out! Look out! Look out!
I felt so helpless, what could I do?
Remembering all the things we'd been through
In school they all stop and stare
I can't hide the tears, but I don't care
I'll never forget him (the leader of the pack)
The leader of the pack - now he's gone
The leader of the pack - now he's gone
The leader of the pack - now he's gone
The leader of the pack - now he's gone
"The Living End", Jesus and Mary Chain, from Psychocandy
I get ahead on my motorbike
I get ahead on my motorbike
I feel so quick in my leather boots
I feel so quick in my leather boots
My mood is black when my jacket's on
My mood is black when my jacket's on
And I'm in love with myself
And I'm in love with myself
There's nothing else but me
There's nothing else but me
And an empty road
And a cool cool wind and it makes feel so good
Just like I knew it would
Just like I knew it would
I get so wild on my motorbike
I get so wild on my motorbike
I'm breaking loose on this moonlit night
I'm breaking loose on this moonlit night
I cut the road like a sharpened knife
I cut the road like a sharpened knife
And I'm in love with myself
And I'm in love with myself
There's nothing else but me
There's nothing else but me
And an empty road
And a cool cool wind makes me feel so good
I'm moving too fast, * I'm moving too fast *
I'm moving so fast that I can't control the wheels
I'm moving so fast, * I'm moving so fast *
Yeah, I'm going for a tree, yeah it's going for me, yeah
My head is dripping into my leather boots.
"Midnight Rider, The Allman Brothers
Well, I've got to run to keep from hiding,
And I'm bound to keep on riding.
And I've got one more silver dollar,
But I'm not gonna let them catch me, no,
Not gonna let 'em catch the midnight rider.
And I don't own the clothes I'm wearing,
And the road goes on forever,
And I've got one more silver dollar,
But I'm not gonna let them catch me, no
Not gonna let 'em catch the midnight rider.
And I've gone by the point of caring,
Some old bed I'll soon be sharing,
And I've got one more silver dollar,
[Repeat three times and fade]
But I'm not gonna let em catch me, no
Not gonna let them catch the midnight rider.
"Motorbikin' ", Billy Idol (by Chris Spedding)
Motorbikin', motorbikin', motorbikin', motorcycling
Movin' on the queens' highway
Lookin' like a streak of lightnin'
If you gotta go, go, gotta go motorbike ridin'
Listen to me and I'll tell you no lie
Too fast to live, too young to die
I bought a new machine and then they say
It takes your breath away
Motorbikin', motorbikin', motorbikin', motorcycling
Movin' on the queens' highway
Lookin' like a streak of lightnin'
Baby won't you come with me
I'll take you where you wanna be
Here I am again, I'm dressed in black
I got my baby, she's ridin' up back
We're doin' about ninety-five
I said: Oh, it's good to be alive
Motorbikin', motorbikin', motorbikin', motorcycling
Movin' on the queens' highway
Lookin' like a streak of lightnin'
If you gotta go, go, gotta go motorbike ridin'
"Motorcycle Cowboy", Merle Haggard
Yeah I love my biker baby
She loves her guitar picking pal
Yeah I love my Harley mama
She loves her guitar pickin' pal
I'm her motorcycle cowboy
She's my long tall gal.
Yeah I ain't got no driveway
Park my hog out on the lawn
I ain't got no driveway
Park my mean old hog out on the lawn
Well I ain't got me much money
Got me a long tall blonde.
Oh ley, oh a ley, oh a ley hee hooo
Me and the motorcycle
Me and the motorbike
We just running around
My feet are off the ground
She's not gonna let me down
She's not gonna let me down
Me and this motorcycle
Me and this motorbike
You don't go too fast
You just set me free
It don't go too fast
Just let me out
Let me out
AHHHH - Motorcycle
AHHHH - We are free
I feel warm inside
On the motorbike
The wind is all around
On the motorbike
We are free
The motorcycle and me
The motorcycle and me
The motorcycle and me
Motorcycle Mama, won't you lay your big spike down
Motorcycle Mama, won't you lay your big spike down
I always get in trouble when you bring it round
Motorcycle Mama, won't you lay it down.
I'm runnin', I'm runnin',
I'm runnin', down the proud highway
Yeah, I'm runnin', I'm runnin',
I'm runnin' down the proud highway
And as long as I keep movin' I won't need a place to stay.
If you see me flashing by
Do not stop me, do not try
'Cause I'm a motorcycle man
I get my kicks just when I can
Motorcycle man
Motorcycle man
I can beat your street machine
We're taking risks, that's what we mean
'Cause I'm a motorcycle man
We get our kicks just when we can
When we can
Motorcycle man
Motorcycle...
If you see me riding by
Do not stop me, do not try
'Cause I'm a motorcycle man
I get my kicks just when I can
When I can
Motorcycle man
Motorcycle man
Motorcycle, motorcycle
Motorcycle man
I can beat your street machine
I'm taking risks, that's what I mean
'Cause I'm a motorcycle man
We get our kicks just when we can
When we can
Motorcycle man
Motorcycle man
Motorcycle, motorcycle
Motorcycle man
"The Motorcycle Song", Arlo Guthrie
CHORUS:
I don't want a pickle
Just want to ride on my motorsickle
And I don't want a tickle
'Cause I'd rather ride on my motorsickle
And I don't want to die
Just want to ride on my motorcy...cle
It was late last night the other day
I thought I'd go up and see Ray
So l went up and I saw Ray
There was only one thing Ray could say, was:
CHORUS
This song is about the time that I was ridin' my motorcycle.
Going down a mountain road, at 150 miles an hour, playin'
my guitar. On one side of the mountain road there was a
mountain, and on the other side there was nothin' - there was
a cliff in the air.
Now, when you're going down a mountain road at I50 miles
an hour you gotta be very careful, especially if you're playin'
a guitar. Especially if that guitar is an acoustic guitar.
Because if it's an acoustic guitar, the wind pressure is greater
on the box side than on the neck side, because there's
more guitar on the box side. I wasn't payin' attention.
Luckily I didn't go into the mountain - I went over the cliff.
I was goin' at 150 miles an hour sideways and 500 feet down
at the same time.
I knew it was the end. I looked down, I said ''Wow! Some
trip". I thought it...well I knew it was...I knew it was my last
trip, and in my last remaining seconds in world,I decided
to write one last farewell song to the world.
Put a new ink cartridge in my pen. Took out a piece of paper.
I sat back and I thought awhile. Then I started writin':
I don't want a pickle
Just want to ride on my motorsickle
And I don't want a tickle
'Cause I'd rather ride on my motorsickle
And I don't want to die
Just want to ride on my motorcy ...cle."
I knew that, it wasn't the best song l ever wrote, but I didn't
have time to change it. I was comin' down mighty fast.
But as you all know, and as fate would have it, I didn't die. I
landed on the top of a police car. And he died. I drove away
on the road that he was on. I came into town at a screamin'
175 miles an hour, playin' the motorcycle song.
I came into town, I jumped off my bike, the bike went around
the corner by itself, went up on the stand by itself, turned
itself off.
I walked over to my friend. He was standin' there eatin'
pickles. I said "Hi, what's happenin'?" He looked at me in the
eye and said "Nothin'".
CHORUS
I took my GPZ out for a ride
The engine felt good between my thighs
The air felt cool, its was 40 degrees outside
I rode to Pennsylvania near the Delaware gap
Sometimes I got lost and had to check the map
I stopped at a roadside diner for a burger and a coke
There were some country folk and some hunters inside
Somebody got themselves married and somebody died
I went to the juke box and played a hillbilly song
They was arguing about football as I waved and went outside
And I headed for the mountains feeling warm inside
I love that GPZ so much, you know that I could kiss her
"Too Old to Rock and Roll, Too Young to Die", Jethro Tull
[People may have heard this song but may not know it is about a rider meeting death on his Triumph.]
He once owned a Harley Davidson and a Triumph Bonneville.
Counted his friends in burned-out spark plugs
and prays that he always will.
But he's the last of the blue blood greaser boys
all of his mates are doing time:
married with three kids up by the ring road
sold their souls straight down the line.
And some of them own little sports cars
and meet at the tennis club do's.
For drinks on a Sunday --- work on Monday.
They've thrown away their blue suede shoes.
Now they're too old to Rock'n'Roll and they're too young to die.
So the old Rocker gets out his bike
to make a ton before he takes his leave.
Up on the A1 by Scotch Corner
just like it used to be.
And as he flies --- tears in his eyes ---
this wind-whipped words echo the final take
and he hits the trunk road doing around 120
with no room left to brake.
And he was too old to Rock'n'Roll but he was too young to die.
No, you're never too old to Rock'n'Roll if you're too young to die.
I'm back out on that road again, turn this beast into the
wind
There are those that break and bend, I'm the other kind
I'm the other kind
See, it used to be I was really free, didn't need no gasoline to run
Before you could say Jack Kerouac and turn your back, I'd be gone
Yeah but nowadays I got me two good wheels
And I seek refuge in aluminum and steel
It takes me out there for just a little while
And the years fall away with every mile
"Ride", Joe Satriani, "Flying in a Blue Dream"
I know some people like to take life easy,
That's not my style.
I'm not the type to let this life tease me,
I'm gonna make it wild.
I just wanna ride,
Get on my bike and ride.
Some people think you've got to live your life one way,
I disagree.
I'm not gonna pay attention to them anyway,
It's got nothing, nothing to do with me.
Life is so short, we've got
No time to waste at all.
I just wanna ride,
Get on my bike and ride.
I just wanna ride,
Get on my bike and ride.
I see the road, as it opens up before me,
I feel the heat.
I'm gonna go where I want, when I want to.
I've got to be free.
I just wanna ride,
Get on my bike and ride.
I just wanna ride,
Get on my bike and ride.
Feels so right...
Feels so right...
Hearts of fire
Streets of stone
Modern warriors
Saddle iron, horses of chrome
Taste the wild
Lick the wind
Like something they never saw before
Their jaws dropping to the floor
Steel made of soul and sin
Rebels born without a care
And the day he listens
Only to fly where eagles dare
And the night she whispers
Ride the wind
Never coming back until I touch the midnight sun
Ride the wind
Never coming back again
Painted flesh
Loyalty
Humble pride
Just as far as the eye can see
Stories told
Two old friends
Of battle scars and lonely bars
And nights the rain wouldn't end
Here's to withered eyes wearing gypsy smiles
And the day he listens
Here's to lovely ladies and a million miles
And the night she whispers
Of all the truths and lies
And stories of riders in the sky
They say only the bravest try
Where eagles and angels dare to fly
Took a look down a westbound road,
Right away I made my choice
Headed out to my big two-wheeler,
I was tired of my own voice
Took a bead on the northern plains
And just rolled that power on
Twelve hours out of Mackinaw city
Stopped in a bar to have a brew
Met a girl and we had a few drinks
And I told her what I'd decided to do
She looked out the window a long long moment
Then she looked into my eyes
She didn't have to say a thing,
I knew what she was thinkin'
Roll, roll me away,
Won't you roll me away tonight
I too am lost, I feel double-crossed
And I'm sick of what's wrong
and what's right
We never even said a word,
We just walked out and got on that bike
And we rolled
And we rolled clean out of sight
We rolled across the high plains
Deep into the mountains
Felt so good to me
Finally feelin' free
Somewhere along a high road
The air began to turn cold
She said she missed her home
I headed on alone
Stood alone on a mountain top,
Starin' out at the great divide
I could go east, I could go west,
It was all up to me to decide
Just then I saw a young hawk flyin'
And my soul began to rise
And pretty soon
My heart was singin'
Roll, roll me away,
I'm gonna roll me away tonight
Gotta keep rollin', gotta keep ridin',
Keep searchin' till I find what's right
And as the sunset faded
I spoke to the faintest first starlight
And I said next time
Next time
Well get it right
I just took a ride
in a silver machine
and I'm still feeling mean
I got a silver machine
Do you want to ride
see yourself going by
other side of the sky
Well I got a silver machine
It flies sideways through time
It's an electric line
To your Zodiac sign
It flies out of a dream
It's antiseptically clean
You're gonna know where I've been
In my silver machine
She used to work in a diner
Never saw a woman look finer
I used to order just to watch
her float across the floor
She grew up in a small town
Never put her roots down
Daddy always kept movin',
so she did too.
Somewhere on a desert highway
She rides a Harley-Davidson
Her long blonde hair
flyin' in the wind
She's been runnin' half her life
The chrome and steel she rides
Collidin' with
the very air she breathes
The air she breathes.
You know it ain't easy
You got to hold on
She was an unknown legend
in her time
Now she's dressin' two kids
Lookin' for a magic kiss
She gets the far-away look
in her eyes.
Somewhere on a desert highway
She rides a Harley-Davidson
Her long blonde hair
flyin' in the wind
She's been runnin' half her life
The chrome and steel she rides
Collidin' with the very
air she breathes
The air she breathes.
"Wanted Dead or Alive", Bon Jovi
It's all the same, only the names will change
Everyday it seems were wasting away
Another place where the faces are so cold
Id drive all night just to get back home
Chorus:
I'm a cowboy, on a steel horse I ride
I'm wanted dead or alive
Wanted dead or alive
Sometimes I sleep, sometimes it's not for days
And the people I meet always go their separate ways
Sometimes you tell the day
By the bottle that you drink
And times when you’re all alone all you do is think
Chorus
I walk these streets, a loaded six string on my back
I play for keeps, cause I might not make it back
I been everywhere, still I'm standing tall
I've seen a million faces an I’ve rocked them all
I'm a cowboy, on a steel horse I ride
I'm wanted dead or alive
I'm a cowboy, I got the night on my side
I'm wanted dead or alive
Wanted dead or alive