Lyr Req: Riding with Private Malone

Subject: Riding with Private Malone
From: twister
Date: 06 Oct 01 - 06:04 PM

I can't find the lyrics of this new song by David Ball. It's so nice I can't find it on Lyrics point. It's called Riding With Private Malone. Makes me cry every time!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Riding with Private Malone
From: catspaw49
Date: 06 Oct 01 - 06:26 PM

The song is by Thom Shepherd but I can't find lyrics.

Spaw

Subject: Lyr Add: RIDING WITH PRIVATE MALONE (David Ball)
From: Lin in Kansas
Date: 07 Apr 02 - 08:30 PM

Cowpie's got 'em now, along with chords which I didn't transcribe. Here ya go:

I was just out of the service thumbin' through the classifieds
When an ad that said old Chevy somehow caught my eye
The lady didn't know the year or even if it ran
But I had that thousand dollars in my hand
It was way back in the in corner of this old ramshackle barn
With thirty years of dust and dirt on that green army tarp
When I pulled the cover off it took away my breath
What she called a Chevy was a sixty-six Corvette
I felt a little guilty as I counted out the bills
What a thrill I got when I sat behind the wheel
I opened up the glove box and that's when I found the note
The date was nineteen sixty-six and this is what he wrote

CHORUS
My name is Private Andrew Malone
If you’re reading this then I didn't make it home
But for every dream that's shattered another one comes true
This car was once a dream of mine now it belongs to you
And though you may take her and make her your own
You'll always be riding with Private Malone

VERSE 2
It didn't take me long at all I had her runnin' good
I loved to hear those horses thunder underneath her hood
I had her shinin' like a diamond and I'd put the rag top down
All the pretty girls would stop and stare as I drove her through town
The buttons on the radio didn't seem to work quite right
But it picked up that oldies show especially late at night
I'd get the feelin' sometimes if I turned real quick I'd see
A soldier riding shotgun in the seat right next to me

CHORUS
It was a young man named Private Andrew Malone
Who fought for his country and never made it home
But for every dream that's shattered there's another that comes true
This car was once a dream of his back when it was new
And he told me to take her and make her my own
(Repeat intro.)
And I was proud to be riding with Private Malone

VERSE 3
One night it was raining hard I took a curve too fast
I still don't remember much about that fiery crash
Someone said they thought they saw a soldier pull me out
They didn't get his name but I know without a doubt

CHORUS
It was a young man named Private Andrew Malone
Who fought for his country and never made it home
But for every dream that shatters there's another that comes true
This car was once a dream of his back when it was new
And I know I wouldn't be here if he hadn't tagged along
(Repeat intro.)
Yeah that night I was riding with Private Malone
(Repeat intro.)
Oh thank God I was riding with Private Malone
Private Malone....

For the chords, go to here.

Lin in Kansas

BTW, this PermaThread was a great idea, and frequently saves hunting the entire Forum for lyric requests, but if all anyone does is add requests to it, it won't accomplish it's purpose. Come on folks, go find some of these, eh? (Yeah, I know--nag, nag, nag...)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Riding with Private Malone
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 09 Apr 02 - 10:05 AM

Well, Lin, I certainly appreciate your efforts. As I see it, we're not just finding lyrics for people who ask for them; we're also accumulating a database for posterity. Unfulfilled requests, even if they're years old and the original requester is no longer paying attention, form a useful list of songs that ought to be added to the database.

We see new requests daily, but we have no way of knowing how many people FOUND the lyrics they wanted already in DigiTrad or in the Forum, and therefore had no need to ask. My guess is it happens often enough to make efforts to expand the database worthwhile. Anyway, I love the work. I like to think more people are playing and enjoying folk music because of the work we do.

However, I understand that a lot of people who use Mudcat aren't thinking about posterity. They expect that someone out there will immediately respond to them and thank them, and without this response, they feel like it's not worth the effort. I guess those of us who work on old unfulfilled requests just have to thank and encourage each other.

So THANKS, LIN!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Riding with Private Malone
From: Lin in Kansas
Date: 09 Apr 02 - 06:08 PM

Understood, Jim, and I agree that building the database is a Good Thing.

That said, though, it is really discouraging to hunt for a couple of hours (or more, if it's obscure) to find one song, and then come back to see another 20 or 30 requests listed. I've been glad to see that Joe has left the list of "answered" in the thread, so at least we can see what we've done so far.

I'll try for an attitude adjustment--one at a time, just look for 'em one at a time.

Thanks, Jim.

Lin