I had a request from a friend to provide some back stories on my songs. So, I’ll start with providing the origin of the tunes off “WHITE LIGHTNIN’. If you haven’t picked up your copy yet here’s where you can.
A good place to start is at the top. Track 1 – GO FOR A RIDE
I wrote GO FOR A RIDE around 2009. This was a writing exercise. I was working with Tricia Grey, a vocal and songwriting coach, honing my skills. I had come up with some titles and this one rose to the top. I wanted to create the imagery of a couple caught up in life, like it goes, running here and there with little time for each other. The scene brings them together with a chance to get out of the house and….well, go for a ride.
The song has had several lyric changes over the years. The first came soon after I wrote it. I was playing the song for some buddies and Les Falke, one of the smartest guys I know and a really good guitar player, took exception to the first 2 lines which were “You’ve been working hard and I’ve been staying out late, it’s been too long since we’ve been on a date.”
“Nobody uses “date” in a lyric.” Les argued. “What do you know?” I countered, using some choice language. He won, but not for a while! It took me over a year to give in.
The Chorus used to be “Sing along with the radio”. I even had a demo cut with that line. You can hear that on the original version which is on the original CD THE RUSS STILL PROJECT which is still on iTunes. Pick one up and you’ll be the 10th person to own one. After listening to it awhile it occurred to me that you don’t listen to the stereo in a car. You listen to the radio. I changed that on the WHITE LIGHTNIN’ version.
I tried some other changes too. I had an artist rep in Nashville tell me that I shouldn’t stop and park down by the lake in a song about driving. Always willing to please a Nashville rep I rewrote the Chorus line to “drive down past the lake where the oak tree goes.” I used that on an early version for WHITE LIGHTNIN’ and brought it home. Cam heard it and pitched a fit! “No! You can’t ride past the lake! You have to stop and spread out the blanket and kiss awhile!” She had the vision in her mind and I WASN’T going to change it. You see who gets their way in our house.
I had somebody else in Nashville tell me that the Bridge didn’t work. I like Bridges and I like this one a lot. And I’m proud about how it gets you to the key change. I don’t listen to everybody….all the time….except Cam.
There’s a double entendre in the song. A little subliminal message. It wasn’t intended, but I realized it later. Can you find it? Let me know.
Well here is a link of an acoustic version https://youtu.be/rfQ-V7ga1s0and here are the lyrics so you can sing along! Let me know what you think.
GO FOR A RIDE
VERSE 1
I’ve been working hard pulling in overtime
You’ve got it bad with your daily grind
I’ve got something that you’re gonna like
Let’s warm up the car and go for a ride
CHORUS
Lets ride out to the country
Hold hands just like we used to
Park down by the lake where the oak tree grows
Talk about the times we’ve had just me and you
Spread out the blanket hold each other close
Sing along with the radio
Leave all our troubles behind
Let’s you and me Go For A Ride
VERSE 2
Remember the wink that was our secret sign
When we had something special in mind
We made that ol’ Chevy fly like the wind
Come on let’s go do it again
CHORUS
BRIDGE
I feel like a King when you’re next to me
No place on earth I’d rather be
CHORUS
Lets drive out in the country
Hold hands just like we used to do
park down by the lake where the oak tree grows
talk ‘bout the times that we’ve had just me and you
spread out the blanket, hold each other close
Sing along with the radio
Leave all our worries behind
Let’s you and me Go For A Ride
Go For A Ride (repeat out)