Riding to New York
Well, I met him in Minnesota,He was dark and overcast,With long grey hair and eyes that staredthrough me like I was glass.I asked, "Where are you going to?"He said, "I’m the wind, I’m just blowing through."He lit up a cigarette and began to talk.
"See, the doctors told meMy body won’t hold me,My lungs are turning black.Been Lucky Strike’s fool since I was at school NNow there ain’t no turning back,They can’t tell me how long i’ve got,Maybe months but maybe not.So I’m taking this bike and riding to New York.
'cos I wanna see my grand-daughter one last time.Wanna hold her close and feel her tiny heart beat next to mine.Wanna see my son and the man he’s become.Tell him I’m sorry for the things I’ve doneAnd I’d do it if I had to walk.Oh, I’m taking this bike and riding to New York
Through the forests of WisconsinThat I knew as a boy,Past the skyline of Chicago,Round the lakes of Illinois.I'll lay my head in a motel bedwhen my back is sore and my eyes turn redand listen to the trucks roll past my door
Through the fields of Ohioas the sunshine paints them goldI'll run just like a river runsrapid, quick and coldand fly through Pennsylvaniaand the Jersey turnpike tollsand I won’t stop ’til I get to New York
'cos I wanna see my grandson one last timewanna see his eyes sparkling and stare back into minenow my time is short I wanna see my daughtertell her I’m sorry for the things I taught herand I’d do it if I had to walkoh, I’m taking this bike, I'm riding to New York
And I’d go up to the churchyard one last time,Lay flowers down for the woman who gave methe best years of my lifeand I’d do it if I had to walkyeah, I’d do it if I had to walkI’m taking this bike and riding to New York."