Music and Riding

[David]

If you were asked to pick a song that captures your own perspective of riding, what would it be? It doesn't have to be a song that specifically deals with riding.

 

I'm just curious.

 

(I have some ideas for Russell.)

[90%angel]

(I have some ideas for Russell.)

 

Well let's hear them!

 

Personally, I like "Me & My Gang" by Rascall Flatts. For me, riding is about the cameraderie of it all. I also like "Zooropa" by U2. The idea that you have no compass or map and you're free. It even has a line in German in there, just for my German bike.

[David]

This song made me think of a 50cc ride, which many members have accomplished:

 

It is the night

My body's weak

I'm on the run

No time to sleep

I've got to ride

Ride like the wind

To be free again

 

And I've got such a long way to go

To make it to the border of Mexico

So I'll ride like the wind

Ride like the wind

 

I was born the son of a lawless man

Always spoke my mind with a gun in my hand

Lived nine lives

Gunned down ten

Gonna ride like the wind

 

And I've got such a long way to go

To make it to the border of Mexico

So I'll ride like the wind

Ride like the wind

 

Accused and tired and told to hang

I was nowhere in sight when the chuchbells rang

Never was the kind to do as I was told

Gonna ride like the wind before I get old

 

It is the night

My body's weak

I'm on the run

No time to sleep

I've got to ride

Ride like the wind

To be free again

 

And I've got such a long way to go

To make it to the border of Mexico

So I'll ride like the wind

Ride like the wind

[tallman]

We've Never Danced

 

(Neil Young)

©1987 Silver Fiddle Music/Marilor Music ASCAP

 

 

Between heaven and earth

There's a ballroom floor

Where couples glide

In the evermore

Dancing through the clouds

Laughing in the rain

Eyes that see no lines

Hearts that feel no pain

 

I hope it's not too late

We were more than friends

And I can hardly wait

Till we meet again

 

We've never danced

We've never danced

We've never danced

The night away

Away

 

If you don't really know

Where you want to go

It maks no difference

Which road you take

 

I hope it's not too late

We were more than friends

And I can hardly wait

Till we meet again

 

We've never danced

We've never danced

We've never danced

The night away

Away

 

We've never danced

We've never danced

We've never danced

The night away

 

[Jerry in Monument]

Hmmm...... Christopher Cross, eh?

 

In years gone by & crotch-rocket days, "I Can't Drive 55", Sammy Hagar

 

Now some Pink Floyd, "Learning To Fly". Or 10,000 Maniacs "Like The Weather". Or.....

 

Whatever is playing on my 120GB Zune.

[markgoodrich]

The secret to an early crash at a track day is to play ZZ Top's "La Grange" REAL LOUD through your earphones, right after chugging a large Red Bull and entering the track. I warn you, though, asphalt is a LOT harder than it appears from astride a motorcycle.

 

Otherwise, set the sat radio on the blues station and go.

[BabyCow]

The 9 minute version of It's a long way there (The Little River Band)

It's a Long Way to the Top (if u wanna rock and roll) Ac/DC

[johnlt]

The idea that you have no compass or map and you're free.

 

But Angel, I have 2 GPS and a map!! That can't possibly fit my riding style!!

[Polo]

Santana's "Black Magic Woman".

[Fugu]

"Workin' Them Angels"- Rush

 

Driving away to the east, and into the past

History receeds in my rear-view mirror

Carried away on a wave of music down a desert road

Memory humming at the heart of a factory town

 

All my life

I've been workin' them angels overtime

Riding and driving and living

So close to the edge

Workin' them angels - Overtime

 

Riding through the Range of Light to the wounded city

Filling my spirit with the wildest wish to fly

Taking the high road to the wounded city

Memory strumming at the heart of a moving picture

 

All this time

I've been workin' them angels overtime

Riding and diving and flying

Just over the edge

Workin' them angels - Overtime

 

Driving down the razor's edge 'tween the past and the future

Turn up the music and smile

Get carried away on the songs and stories of vanished times

Memory drumming at the heart of an English winter

Memories beating at the heart of an African village

[AZgman]

Sexual harassment in the workplace - Frank Zappa

[SageRider]

Electric Light Orchestra's "Mr. Blue Sky" (and the rest of the "Out of the Blue" album.)

[Big_Gray]

I don't know whether it captures my perspective of riding or not but 50 miles of AC/DC Back in Black cranked up a little while riding at a brisk pace makes me feel 10 years younger...better make that 20. 10 doesn't get me to that good an age yet.

[Mike O]

Lynyrd Skynryd - Call Me The Breeze

 

Call me the breeze

I keep blowin down the road

Well now they call me the breeze

I keep blowin down the road

I aint got me nobody

I dont carry me no load...

 

Mike O

[Highway41]

Easy. Flirtin' With Disaster. Molly Hatchet.

Bill

[lawnchairboy]

 

Trip Through Your Wires-U2

 

motorcycling sometimes gives me what I desire...

 

 

chris

 

 

 

 

[BanjoBoy]

Music and riding go hand in hand!

 

My favorite riding tune would have to beBob Seger's Turn the Page

 

On a long and lonesome highway

East of Omaha

You can listen to the engine

Moanin' out his one note song

You can think about the woman

Or the girl you knew the night before

But your thoughts will soon be wandering

The way they always do

When you're ridin' sixteen hours

And there's nothin' much to do

And you don't feel much like ridin',

You just wish the trip was through

 

Here I am

On the road again

There I am

Up on the stage

Here I go

Playin' star again

There I go

Turn the page

 

Well you walk into a restaurant,

Strung out from the road

And you feel the eyes upon you

As you're shakin' off the cold

You pretend it doesn't bother you

But you just want to explode

 

Most times you can't hear 'em talk,

Other times you can

All the same old cliches,

"Is that a woman or a man?"

And you always seem outnumbered,

You don't dare make a stand

 

Here I am

On the road again

There I am

Up on the stage

Here I go

Playin' star again

There I go

Turn the page

 

Out there in the spotlight

You're a million miles away

Every ounce of energy

You try to give away

As the sweat pours out your body

Like the music that you play

 

Later in the evening

As you lie awake in bed

With the echoes from the amplifiers

Ringin' in your head

You smoke the day's last cigarette,

Rememberin' what she said

 

Here I am

On the road again

There I am

Up on the stage

Here I go

Playin' star again

There I go

Turn the page

Here I am

On the road again

There I am

Up on the stage

Here I go

Playin' star again

There I go

Turn the page

There I go

There I go

[Silver Surfer/AKAButters]

Can't do it. For me, it depends on the day and the ride. I can't nail just one down and all of your choices could work, along with a long list of others. Jazz, Blues, HipHop, Pop, 80's, Classic rock, Alternative, World, etc. Every genre has something amazing that fit well with a great ride. I never know what it's going to be.

[TEWKS]

Ah, Bach!....Bachman-Turner Overdrive

 

Roll On Down The Highway

 

We rented a truck and a semi to go

Travel down the long and winding road

Look on the map I think we've been here before,

Close the doors let's roll once more.

 

Cop on the corner, look he's startin' to write

I don't need no ticket so I screamed out of sight,

Drove so fast that my eyes can't see,

Look in the mirror is he still followin' me

 

Let it roll down the highway

Let it roll down the highway,

Roll, roll.

 

Look at the sign, we're in the wrong place

Come on boys, let's get ready to race

454 coming over the hill

The man on patrol, is going to give us a bill.

 

The time's real short, you know the distance is long

I'd rather have a jet but it's not in the song

Climb back in the cab, cross your fingers for luck

We gotta keep movie' if we're going to make a buck.

 

Let it roll down the highway,

Let it roll down the highway,

Roll

 

Let it roll

Let it roll

Let it roll

Let it roll down the highway,

Let it roll down the highway.....

 

 

 

Pat

[skinny_tom (aka boney)]

Led Zeppelin, Achilles Last Stand

[David]

Just for yucks, I was searching on motorcycle songs on the Wiki Lyric thing, and came across this eerie and chilling tune by Third Eye Blind. This is one I do NOT want to be my song. It's called "My Hit and Run":

 

Feel the speed through the intersection

In sheets of rain I seek out cars

Hands in love with handlebars

 

Ride alone to the pub in the dark

I get a little wet but I don't have to park

And the lights they start flashing green and red as I ride

A car turns left and I slide

I can't turn back

I make contact

Blinkers smash into a mosaic

And I start flying

 

Always think we get more time

Now flying through the air

Maybe living maybe dying

In this motor crash it's you who comes to mind

Don't we always wish we had more time

 

I'm thrust slow mo through time and space

Details smash and

I protect my face

And then I see yours

And go to a time when we just knew

 

Mister death in the car below

Doesn't even slow

And away he goes

In the majesty of a motor crash

You skid into my darkness forming

Sex and death, heartbreak and strife

Well they give no warning

 

Always think we get more time

Now I'm flying through the air

And it's you who comes to mind

In the red lights and cathedrals there's a sign

Don't we always wish we had more time

 

Here it comes, my hit and run

 

Always think we get more time

Then you're flying through the air

With someone on your mind

And the shattered glass reflections there's a sign

Cause you were there

And I wish we had more time

 

I come down hard and roll to my feet

And rain washes blood now off concrete

People turn away and I just had to laugh

Cause I'm still flying

Living and dying

 

Always think we get more time

You're flying through the air

With someone on your mind

And this motorcycle crash, it is a sign

Cause you were there

And I wish we had more time (you were there)

 

Thank you mister death for what he's done

Cause I got to walk away from my hit and run (you were there)

Mysteries are not so empty now as they seemed

Cause I saw you

At my hit and run

At my hit and run

[Dave in Doodah]

Don't forget Arlo Guthrie...

 

"I don't want a pickle...

I just wanna ride my motor sickle.

 

And I don't wanna die...

I just want to ride my motorcy.........................."

 

 

Oh, and "Midway Park" by Whiskeytown... yeah.......

[Ron_B]

Hmmm...as for my "own perspective of riding," I've long said that riding is therapy. (And believe me, I've had lots of other kinds of therapy - riding is the best kind) Whenever the world seems like it can't get more screwed up, a long ride seems to clear my mind of all that dreary stuff. Hence:

 

"The World Is Falling Down" by Abbey Lincoln

(perhaps my favorite jazz vocalist)

 

 

There are some folks

I used to know

Who used to smile

And say hello,

And spin the world

And turn the page

Entertaining

From the stage

Father time

Forever true

Loves its own

And me and you

Disappear just like the sun,

When the day is done.

 

The world is falling down,

Hold my hand

 

It's a lonely sound,

Hold my hand

 

We'll follow the breeze

And go like the wind

 

And look for a place

Where the willows bend

 

The world is falling down,

Hold my hand,

 

Hold my hand,

Hold my hand,

Hold my hand.

 

Summer's gone

And winter's here

We had a lot of rain this year

The news is really very sad

The time is late,

The fruit is bad

The morning's come

And roosters crow

But people have no place to go

And disappear

Just like the sun

When the day is done

 

The world is falling down

Hold my hand

 

It's a lonely sound

Hold my hand

 

We'll follow the sun

And live for the day

 

And look for a place

Where the children play

 

The world is falling down

Hold my hand,

 

Hold my hand,

Hold my hand,

Hold my hand.

[moshe_levy]

"I've Been Everywhere" - Cash.

 

-MKL

[Bullett]

One of my favorite songs (sometimes) while riding is Can You See the Real Me? by the Who. I just love the vocals, bass riffs and classic rock n roll sound of the Who when I ride.

 

 

But sometimes, its Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, or the Beatles . . . and sometimes, its John Coltrane or Miles Davis or McCoy Tyner . . . I can't pick just one.

 

[jmseattle]

All the Roadrunning -- Mark Knopfler and Emmylou Harris

[cali_beemer]

Hmm some good ones that I cant believe havnt been mentioned:

 

Jerry reed- Eastbound and down (theme music from smokey and the bandit)

 

Bob Seager- Roll Me Away. If this doesnt say motorcycle ride, then I dont know what does.....

 

 

 

 

 

[kiwiaudio]

+1 for the long version of the Doobies "its a long way there"

Great tune !

[Kinsley]

Can't do it. For me, it depends on the day and the ride. I can't nail just one down and all of your choices could work, along with a long list of others. Jazz, Blues, HipHop, Pop, 80's, Classic rock, Alternative, World, etc. Every genre has something amazing that fit well with a great ride. I never know what it's going to be.

 

 

+1

 

I like some of the suggestions, but could get a little distracted by thoughtful lyrics if I get too into the song.

I generally like a good up-beat tempo for my usual pace and longer songs are better for staying in the groove.

Some of my favorites.

Drive by Babble (relaxed)

Weapons of Mass Destuction by The Crystal Method ((excited)

Age Of Loneliness (Enigmatic Club Mix) by Enigma

Mushroom by JunkieXL

Inventions by Maserati (builds up speed)

Abacab by Genesis

Stanglehold by Ted Nugent

Roll With The Changes by REO SPeedwagon

Get It On (Bang A Gong) by The Power Station

Roll On Down The Highway by BTO

 

[CT_Rider]

My Zumo's loaded up with all kinds of Rock, Jazz, Pop,.. But when Bach's Air On A G String comes on.... Perfect!

[Kitsap]

No lyrics.

 

Scuttle Buttin by Stevie Ray Vaughan

 

With lyrics..

 

East Bound and Down by Jerry Reed

 

East bound and down, loaded up and truckin'

a'we gonna do what they say can't be done

We've got a long why to go and a short time to get there

I'm east bound just watch ol'Bandit run

 

Keep your foot hard on the peddle...son, never mind them brakes

let it all hang out cause we've got a run to make

The boys are thirsty in Atlanta,and there's beer in Texarcana

and we'll bring it back no matter what it takes

[Mister Tee]

Stunna stunna,

Show me somethin' that I never had seen...

 

-Baby Ak #1, rapped by True Z

[bridwell52]

I don't know whether it captures my perspective of riding or not but 50 miles of AC/DC Back in Black cranked up a little while riding at a brisk pace makes me feel 10 years younger...better make that 20. 10 doesn't get me to that good an age yet.

 

I still love them, and always get speeding tickets while listening to them grind it out. LOL

 

David B.

[MWS]

Sexual harassment in the workplace - Frank Zappa

 

 

+ on that one, Also like Inca Roads, the live version!

 

[Joe Frickin' Friday]

"I've Been Everywhere" - Cash.

 

-MKL

 

That song - and

by our own Steve Farson - makes me want to tour, to go see faraway places that I don't see every day.

 

"The Joshua Tree" (pretty much the whole album) makes me want to cruise the desert southwest at high speed. When U2/Bono wrote "Where the Streets Have No Name" they had something else altogether in mind, but to me, musically it feels like a metaphor for an entire day's ride:

 

-the murky, deep pipe organ at the start: You're putting on all your gear, thinking about the ride.

 

-the clarion organ chords, starting around 0:30: you walk out to the bike, put your helmet on and throw a leg over.

 

-the guitar arpeggios, starting around 0:45: you start the engine and roll out, gently warming it up on the way out of town.

 

-the tempo change, around 1:05: you hit the open road out in the desert, riding the sweepers at mach 3. Dry air, big sky, bright morning sun.

 

The wind-down/arpeggios again, around 4:50: the day's ride is over, and the engine is cooling down as you putter back through town to your hotel. You kill the engine (5:25) and take a few seconds to marvel at what an incredible day you've just had.

[tallman]

BTDT

I come down hard and roll to my feet

And rain washes blood now off concrete

People turn away and I just had to laugh

Cause I'm still flying

Living and dying

 

Always think we get more time

You're flying through the air

With someone on your mind

And this motorcycle crash, it is a sign

Cause you were there

And I wish we had more time (you were there)

 

 

50 yards through the air

At least they caught the guy...

[TedG]

You dudes must be much more adept at multitasking than I. Unless I'm just cruising down the slab, I don't want any distractions.

 

Anyway, what's with all these tunes from the Pleistocene? I mean, I'm a geezer and all, but, sheesh....

[R80RTKen]

I Speed At Night by Ronnie James Dio..

 

[DrMikey]

"Life is a Highway" by Tom Cochrane and Red Rider (not the recent more countrified verstion).

[s3steve]

Midnight Rider - The Allman Brothers Band

[Kinsley]

Midnight Rider - The Allman Brothers Band

 

Or the faster version by Kenny Wayne Shepherd

[Pilgrim]

The Flying Dutchman

Ride of the Valkyries

 

I have these two in sequence as a playlist on my IPhone, which I plug into the stereo on my Road Glide. Dutchman plays while the bike idles as I put on my gloves and helmet, and then Valkyries cuts in about the time I'm leaving. They are particularly effective in getting the blood flowing when they are tuned up at 0600 in the parking lot of the motel.

 

Chuck Berry does just fine for a fast go-to-hell run down road.

 

Pilgrim

 

 

 

[beemerman2k]

The "Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Rings" soundtrack. When the music for the Nazgul, the "Black Riders" comes on, that music makes you feel like hell on wheels. Bitchin'!

[Fugu]

Speedway at Nazareth - Mark Knopfler

[BanjoBoy]

If you were asked to pick a song that captures your own perspective of riding, what would it be? It doesn't have to be a song that specifically deals with riding.

 

I'm just curious.

 

(I have some ideas for Russell.)

 

Dave isn't saying it's what you listen too while riding, just pick a song that captures the ride.

 

We know Dave and Rusell like On the Road Again 'because that's what they listen to as they roar down snow covered roads!

 

This morning I rode to work in a down pour, so when I got to work I had to play Rider on The Storm by the Doors.

[Kinsley]

If you were asked to pick a song that captures your own perspective of riding, what would it be? It doesn't have to be a song that specifically deals with riding.

 

I'm just curious.

 

(I have some ideas for Russell.)

 

Dave isn't saying it's what you listen too while riding, just pick a song that captures the ride.

 

We know Dave and Rusell like On the Road Again 'because that's what they listen to as they roar down snow covered roads!

 

This morning I rode to work in a down pour, so when I got to work I had to play Rider on The Storm by the Doors.

 

Obviously, it's a moving target for most of us

I seem to hear it coming from a corner just ahead of me, so I ride faster

[bmweerman]

"Workin' Them Angels"- Rush

 

Driving away to the east, and into the past

History receeds in my rear-view mirror

Carried away on a wave of music down a desert road

Memory humming at the heart of a factory town

 

All my life

I've been workin' them angels overtime

Riding and driving and living

So close to the edge

Workin' them angels - Overtime

 

Riding through the Range of Light to the wounded city

Filling my spirit with the wildest wish to fly

Taking the high road to the wounded city

Memory strumming at the heart of a moving picture

 

All this time

I've been workin' them angels overtime

Riding and diving and flying

Just over the edge

Workin' them angels - Overtime

 

Driving down the razor's edge 'tween the past and the future

Turn up the music and smile

Get carried away on the songs and stories of vanished times

Memory drumming at the heart of an English winter

Memories beating at the heart of an African village

 

+1 on that!

[Dave in Doodah]

Speedway at Nazareth - Mark Knopfler

 

+1 You nailed it!

[TDY]

Pearl Jams (Ten) I know I tend to ride a little more aggressive but da@ that is a good album!!!

[pbbeck]

Red Barchetta by Rush