In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Movin' like the fog on the Cumberland River
I was leaving on the Delta Queen
I wasn't ready to go
I'm never ready to go
Twenty-seven years of nothin' but failures and promises that I couldn't keep
Oh lord I wasn't ready to go
I'm never ready to go
Let it ride
Let it ride easy down the road
Let it ride
Let it take away all of the darkness
Let it ride
Let it rock me in the arms of strangers, angels until it brings me home
Let it ride
Let it roll
Let it go
Loaded like a sailor
Tumbling off a ferry boat
I was at the bar till three
Oh Lord, and I wasn't ready to go
I'm never ready to go
Tennessee's a brother to my sister Carolina where they're gonna bury me
And I ain't ready to go
I'm never ready to go
Let it ride let it ride easy down the road
Let it ride
Let it take away all of this darkness
Let it ride
Let it rock me in the arms of strangers, angels until it brings me home
Let it ride
Let it roll
Let it go
I want to see you tonight
Dancing in the endless moonlight
In the parking lot in the headlights of cars
Someplace on the moon
Where they moved the drive-in theater
Where I left the car that I can't find but I still got the keys to
Let it ride
Let it ride easy down the road
Let it ride
Let it take away all of this darkness
Let it ride
Let it rock me in the arms of strangers, angels until it brings me home
Let it ride
Let it roll
Let it go
I was leaving on the Delta Queen
I wasn't ready to go
I'm never ready to go
Twenty-seven years of nothin' but failures and promises that I couldn't keep
Oh lord I wasn't ready to go
I'm never ready to go
Let it ride
Let it ride easy down the road
Let it ride
Let it take away all of the darkness
Let it ride
Let it rock me in the arms of strangers, angels until it brings me home
Let it ride
Let it roll
Let it go
Loaded like a sailor
Tumbling off a ferry boat
I was at the bar till three
Oh Lord, and I wasn't ready to go
I'm never ready to go
Tennessee's a brother to my sister Carolina where they're gonna bury me
And I ain't ready to go
I'm never ready to go
Let it ride let it ride easy down the road
Let it ride
Let it take away all of this darkness
Let it ride
Let it rock me in the arms of strangers, angels until it brings me home
Let it ride
Let it roll
Let it go
I want to see you tonight
Dancing in the endless moonlight
In the parking lot in the headlights of cars
Someplace on the moon
Where they moved the drive-in theater
Where I left the car that I can't find but I still got the keys to
Let it ride
Let it ride easy down the road
Let it ride
Let it take away all of this darkness
Let it ride
Let it rock me in the arms of strangers, angels until it brings me home
Let it ride
Let it roll
Let it go
Lyrics submitted by ThisKidLovesLife
Let It Ride Lyrics as written by Tree Adams
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This song was written by a man whose diet consists of unfiltered marlboro cigarettes and a fifth of jack daniels. But I think he wants this to change
I think this album is a grown up album for Adams, and this song reflects his desire to become more focused in life, but he still refuses to let go of what he will be forced to leave behind.
I love this song, especially the last stanza. "I wanna see you tonight Dancing in the endless moonlight In the parking lot, in the headlights of cars Someplace over the moon Where they moved the drive-in theater Where I left the car that I can't find that I still got the keys to"
something about those words just gets to me, and I love them.
I go to the Ryan Adams website every other day just to hear the tune (since the only other content is tour dates and a little merch). Great song. Ryan has a tremendous ability to say so much with just a few words.
As for this song, I think there is a real struggle between the man that is and the man that wants to be. He knows that alcohol is slowing killing him and creating all kinds of problems in his life, but its always there as an escape.
The man is looking for something divine, in the shape of a woman, to come down and rescue him. I've seen this theme in several Adams' tunes.
This song is definetely about escape. "I wasn't ready to go... I am never ready to go" The idea of wanting to escape from the sorrow only to find out that you really aren't ready to let go. I guess using Alcohol to take away the darkness and give comfort. I agree he is looking for something divine, who isn't? We all have to ask the question of ourselves, what do we do to cope with the darkness and lonliness of this life? What can bring us home? He is looking for something to bring him back to the feeling of belonging.
an amazing song by ryan the whole cold roses cd rocks! to me the song is about a guy that doesnt like to go of things and people are tellin him it would be a safe thing cause no one wants him to die...like drinking or drugs or whatever hope im right
Ryan Adams bleeds talent, he really knows how to make music, this song is awesome.
best song ever.
so the line
"Let it rock me in the arms of strangers, angels until it brings me home" I think that may be a nod to the cure (see Just like heaven lyrics)
@lukewagoneer love this lyric. I listen to it daily. Maybe the epitome of loneliness.
i love this song--one of my fav. cards tracks.
I think it’s about knowing you should let go of all your baggage and grow up but you don’t want to leave the hedonism, the excitement, the drugs, the girls. Even through you know it will be the death of you.