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The Ride

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Dmajor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

Capo 3 - Key C
[Intro]
|  G   D|    A|  G   D|    A| 
[Verse 1]
  AWell, I was thumbin' from Montgomery
  CI had my guitar on my back
  DWhen a stranger stopped beside me in an Aantique Cadillac
He was Adressed like 1950, half-Cdrunk and hollow-eyed
He said "It's a Dlong walk to Nashville, would you like a Aride, son?"
|    A| % | % |
[Verse 2]
AI sat down in the front seat
He Cturned on the radio
And them Dsad old songs comin' outta them speakers was Asolid country gold
Then I Anoticed the stranger was ghost-white pale when he Casked me for a light
And I Dknew there was somethin' strange about this Aride
[Chorus]
He said "GDrifter, can you make folks Dcry when you play and Asing?"
"Have you Apaid your dues? Can you moan the blues?"
"Can you Ebend them guitar strings?"
He said "GBoy, can you make folks Dfeel what you feel Ainside?"
"Cause if you're Gbig star bound, let me Dwarn ya it's a long hard Aride"
|  G|  D|    A|
[Verse 3]
Then he Acried just south of Nashville
And he Cturned that car around
He said "DThis is where you get off, boy, cause I'm Agoin' back to Alabam'
AAs I stepped out of that Cadillac
  CI said "Mister, many thanks."
DHe said "You don't have to call me mister, mister"
"AThe whole world called me Hank"
[Chorus]
He said "GDrifter, can you make folks Dcry when you play and Asing?"
"Have you Apaid your dues? Can you moan the blues?"
"Can you Ebend them guitar strings?"
He said "GBoy, can you make folks Dfeel what you feel Ainside?"
"Cause if you're Gbig star bound, let me Dwarn ya it's a long hard Aride"
[Chorus]
He said "GDrifter, can you make folks Dcry when you play and Asing?"
"Have you Apaid your dues? Can you moan the blues?"
"Can you Ebend them guitar strings?"
He said "GBoy, can you make folks Dfeel what you feel Ainside?"
"Cause if you're Gbig star bound, let me Dwarn ya it's a long hard Aride"
"If you're Gbig star bound, let me Dwarn ya it's a long hard Aride"
[Outro]
|  G   D|    A|  G   D|    A|

All chords in this song (5)

Open

XXO232

Major chord - Happy, bright sound

✕ Mute Open Press

Skill · find home

D major

This shape is home. Capo 3 makes it sound in F major. End the line on this chord.

The Ride

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The Ride

by David Allan Coe

Lyrics & chords · Original key · Capo on fret 3 (as written in this song)

Chords in this song · guitar

Capo 3 - Key C

[Intro]

G D A G D A

| | | | |

[Verse 1]

Well, I was thumbin' from Montgomery

I had my guitar on my back

D A

When a stranger stopped beside me in an antique Cadillac

A C

He was dressed like 1950, half-drunk and hollow-eyed

D A

He said "It's a long walk to Nashville, would you like a ride, son?"

| | % | % |

[Verse 2]

I sat down in the front seat

He turned on the radio

D A

And them sad old songs comin' outta them speakers was solid country gold

A C

Then I noticed the stranger was ghost-white pale when he asked me for a light

D A

And I knew there was somethin' strange about this ride

[Chorus]

G D A

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?"

G D A

He said "Boy, can you make folks feel what you feel inside?"

G D A

"Cause if you're big star bound, let me warn ya it's a long hard ride"

G D A

| | | |

[Verse 3]

Then he cried just south of Nashville

And he turned that car around

D A

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 called me Hank"

[Chorus]

G D A

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?"

G D A

He said "Boy, can you make folks feel what you feel inside?"

G D A

"Cause if you're big star bound, let me warn ya it's a long hard ride"

[Chorus]

G D A

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?"

G D A

He said "Boy, can you make folks feel what you feel inside?"

G D A

"Cause if you're big star bound, let me warn ya it's a long hard ride"

G D A

"If you're big star bound, let me warn ya it's a long hard ride"

[Outro]

G D A G D A

| | | | |

About The Ride Chords by David Allan Coe

Learn how to play The Ride by David Allan Coe with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “The Ride chords”, “The Ride guitar chords”, or “David Allan Coe The Ride chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy The Ride chords and for experienced players who want accurate The Ride lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include C, G, D, A, E.

FAQ — The Ride by David Allan Coe

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Is "The Ride" easy to play on guitar?

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What key is "The Ride" in?

The chords for "The Ride" show the original chord names (including C, G, D, A, E). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.