This ballad tells the story of a hitch hiker’s encounter with the ghost of Hank Williams, Sr in a ride from Alabama to Tennessee.

Chords And Lyrics

The Ride chords and lyrics PDF:  David Allen CoeThe Ride

Lyrics

David Allan Coe The Ride

I was thumbin’ 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 And he turned on the radio
And them sad old songs comin outta them speakers was solid country gold
Then I noticed the stranger was ghost-white pale when he asked me for a light
And I knew there was somethin 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 said “Boy, can you make folks feel what you feel inside?”
“Cause if you’re big star bound, let me warn ya it’s a long hard ride”

Repeat intro chords

Well 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’
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 calls me Hank”