The Ride

[Verse 1]

Well, I was thumbin' from Montgomery

Had my guitar on my back

When this stranger stopped beside me

In this antique Cadillac

He was dressed like 1950

Half-drunk and hollow eyed

Said, "It's a long walk to Nashville

Would you like a ride, son?"

[Verse 2]

Well, I sat down in the front seat

And turned on that radio

And them sad old songs comin' out of them speakers

Was a solid country gold

Then I noticed the stranger was ghost white pale

When he asked me for a light

And I knew there was something strange about this ride

[Chorus]

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 says, "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"

[Verse 3]

Then he talked about the music

He talked about the fame

All them nights playin' for the people

Through the poison and the pain

Every story, it smelled like whiskey

But every word was the gospel truth

And I knew I sittin' beside livin' proof

[Chorus]

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 says, "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"

[Verse 4]

Well, he cried just south of Nashville

And turned that car around

He said, "This is where you get off, boy

I'm goin' back to Alabama"

As I stepped out of that Cadillac

I said, "Mister, many thanks"

He said, "You don't have to call me 'mister,' mister

The whole world called me Hank"

[Chorus]

He said, "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 says, "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"

[Outro]

"Yeah, drifter, if you're big star bound

Let me warn you, it's a long hard ride"