Riding with Private Malone
"I was just out of the service, thumbing 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 corner of this old ramshackle barn/
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 '66 Corvette.
I felt a little guilty as I counted out the bills/
But 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 '1966' and this is what it wrote:
He said,'My name is Private Andrew Malone/
If you're reading this,then I didn't make it home/
But for every dream that 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.'
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 corner of this old ramshackle barn/
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 '66 Corvette.
I felt a little guilty as I counted out the bills/
But 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 '1966' and this is what it wrote:
He said,'My name is Private Andrew Malone/
If you're reading this,then I didn't make it home/
But for every dream that 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.'
Well it didn't take me long at all, I had her running good/
I loved to hear those horses thunder underneath her hood/
I had her shining like a 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 feeling sometimes, if I turned real quick I'd see/
A soldier riding shotgun in the seat right next to me.
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, another one comes true/
This car was once a dream of his, back when it was new/
He told me to take her and make her my own/
And I was proud to be riding with Private Malone.
One night it was raining hard, I took the 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:
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,another one comes true/
This car was once a dream of his, back when it was new/
I know I wouldn't be here if he hadn't tagged along/
That night I was riding with Private Malone/
I loved to hear those horses thunder underneath her hood/
I had her shining like a 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 feeling sometimes, if I turned real quick I'd see/
A soldier riding shotgun in the seat right next to me.
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, another one comes true/
This car was once a dream of his, back when it was new/
He told me to take her and make her my own/
And I was proud to be riding with Private Malone.
One night it was raining hard, I took the 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:
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,another one comes true/
This car was once a dream of his, back when it was new/
I know I wouldn't be here if he hadn't tagged along/
That night I was riding with Private Malone/
Thank God I was riding with Private Malone."
There are many reasons why I like country music. I enjoy its folksy language, its storytelling nature, and its reverence of the US Armed Forces. These are all evidenced in this song. "Riding with Private Malone" is a bittersweet song about a fallen soldier who's cherished Corvette is prized by a man from the next generation.
While country music prides itself on telling the "real stories" of the everyday American, this song taps into the imagination of every sucker for a good ending by bringing back Malone's ghost to save the singer's life from a fiery crash. At this time of year, as we come to Memorial Day, "Riding with Private Malone" is an even more poignant example pointing to the service and sacrifice of our troops.
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