We Ride – English Lyrics

• By: Bryan Martin
• Album: Years In The Making

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the rugged soundscape of Bryan Martin's "We Ride," a song that delves into the heart of hard living and the rebellious pursuit of freedom. Through its raw lyrics and Western-infused melody, you'll gain insight into the life of a modern-day desperado and the everyday struggles that resonate with so many. Explore the language of resilience and the stories that country music tells best.

[English]

Well, I've been known to write a few songs

Lovin' and leavin' and gettin' too stoned

Bottle and a pistol by my side

The devil's always along for the ride

We ride down to the creek by the water

I've been baptized by the preacher's daughter

Lucky for me, how he never caught us though

Oh we ride to the bar by the levee

'85 jacked up, square body Chevy

Blanket in the back, when it gets hot and heavy, oh

Oh, we ride pedal to the floorboard

She beggin' for more, slippin' on apple pie

Moonshine

And I'll be gone by the mornin' light

Yeah, 'cause I've been known to write a few songs

Lovin' and leavin' and gettin' too stoned

Bottle and a pistol by my side

Devil's always along for the ride

We ride

Across state lines

Rubbin' two nickels, just tryin' to make a dime

Hard to make a livin' while the gas is so high

Oh, we ride

Like a Harley on a two-lane

Palomino cross plane

Drop it down to four-wheel drive, on a Friday night

Crackin' open a cold Bud Light

Oh, we ride

Pushin' through the hard love

Lookin' for my give-a-fuck

Needle peggin' 95, but that's alright

'Cause I'm runnin' every red light

Yeah, 'cause I've been known to write a few songs

Lovin' and leavin' and gettin' too stoned

Bottle and a pistol by my side

Devil's always along for the ride

Oh, we ride

Oh, we ride

Yeah, 'cause I've been known to write a few songs

Lovin' and leavin' and gettin' too stoned

Bottle and a pistol by my side

Devil's always along for the ride

Yeah, I've been known to write a few songs

Lovin' and leavin' and gettin' too stoned

Bottle and a pistol by my side

Devil's always along for that ride

Oh, along for that ride

The devil's always along for that ride

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
ride /raɪd/ A1	verb - to sit on and control the movement of an animal or vehicle noun - a journey on a horse, bicycle, motorcycle, etc.
write /raɪt/ A1	verb - to mark letters, words, or other symbols on a surface, typically paper, with a pen, pencil, or similar implement
songs /sɔːŋz/ A1	noun - a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing
bottle /ˈbɒtl/ A2	noun - a container, typically made of glass or plastic, with a narrow neck and mouth, used for storing liquids
devil /ˈdevl/ B1	noun - the supreme spirit of evil; Satan
water /ˈwɔːtər/ A1	noun - a colorless, transparent, odorless, and tasteless liquid, the main constituent of seas, lakes, rivers, and rain
daughter /ˈdɔːtər/ A1	noun - a female child
bar /bɑːr/ A2	noun - a long, thin, rigid piece of wood, metal, or other material
floorboard /ˈflɔːrbɔːrd/ B2	noun - a long, flat piece of wood forming part of a floor
light /laɪt/ A1	noun - the natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible
lines /laɪnz/ A1	noun - a long, narrow mark or band
gas /ɡæs/ A2	noun - a substance in a state in which it will expand freely to fill the whole of a container, having no fixed shape and no fixed volume
hard /hɑːrd/ A2	adjective - solid, firm, and rigid; not easily broken, bent, or pierced
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - an intense feeling of affection
red /red/ A1	adjective - of a color like that of blood or rubies

Key Grammar Structures

• I've been known to write a few songs

  ➔ Present Perfect Passive with "to be known to"

  ➔ This structure expresses that the speaker has a reputation or is generally regarded for doing something. "I've been known to" indicates a common or habitual action in the past that continues to be true in the present. Here, the speaker is recognized for writing songs.

• Lovin' and leavin' and gettin' too stoned

  ➔ Ellipsis of auxiliary verb "am/is/are" with present participles (-ing forms)

  ➔ In informal speech/song lyrics, the auxiliary verb "am/is/are" is often omitted before present participles. The full sentence could be "I was lovin', leavin', and gettin' too stoned."

• Lucky for me, how he never caught us though

  ➔ Inversion for Emphasis/Informal Speech with "how"

  ➔ The word order is slightly inverted for emphasis and sounds more colloquial. Standard English might be "Lucky for me, even though he never caught us."

• She beggin' for more, slippin' on apple pie

  ➔ Omission of "is/was" and contraction "beggin'"

  ➔ This line uses dialect. "Beggin'" is a colloquial shortening of "begging," and the auxiliary verb "is/was" is omitted for a more informal, rhythmic effect.

• Across state lines

  ➔ Prepositional phrase acting as an adverbial

  ➔ "Across state lines" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying the verb "ride" by specifying where the riding takes place.

• Rubbin' two nickels, just tryin' to make a dime

  ➔ Gerund with omitted auxiliary verb and infinitive of purpose

  ➔ "Rubbin'" is a gerund acting as the main verb of the clause, with the auxiliary verb again omitted. "To make a dime" is an infinitive phrase showing purpose (why they are rubbing the nickels).

• Needle peggin' 95, but that's alright

  ➔ Gerund as participle, ellipsis of "is", contrastive conjunction "but"

  ➔ "Peggin'" is a gerund used as a participle modifying "needle". The verb "is" is omitted. "But" introduces a contrast between the potentially dangerous speed and the speaker's nonchalant attitude.