Chapter Sixty-Two
THE BALLAD OF BAD RED
[ a song, country-rock ]
"Well, I've got to run to keep from hiding
And I'm bound to keep on riding
And I've got one more silver dollar...
Free 'n easy in the wind, ridin' easy, ridin' free
Never cared much for religion or their vain philosophy
Never knew the man who knew what's true, all I heard was lie on lie
Some preacher talkin' 'bout peace in some sweet valley by 'n by
I went down to the Harley store and stole myself a bike
And sought out my hearts desire, tried out all I thought I'd like
I tried my hand at gamblin', wild women and deceit
Did hard time up in Reno and worse time out on the street
Signed up for the union crew, paid all them construction dues
And worked 'till I dropped into a dream of nightmare blues
I had some friends but was alone, guess I must have sinned
Free 'n easy, ridin' free, free 'n easy in the wind
I remember bein' tough and proud, remember those bar room fights
How the jokers, thieves and liars tried to turn out freedom's lights
I read up on world knowledge and education's claim of cure
Figured out what they call science is more worthless than manure
So I went down to the secret place and read up on the book
Learned 'bout dedication and the great price freedom took
Tried real hard at bein' good, did 'bout everything they said
But it would've been far easier if I'd tried to raise the dead
Think I'll go on down the road, see what's 'round the bend
Free 'n easy, ridin' free, free 'n easy in the wind
No I never knew anything at all, I never knew how to live
Never knew a thing that mattered 'till someone said "I forgive"
Free 'n easy in the wind, ridin' easy, ridin' free ¹
Never cared that much for rules nor 'bout how I'm supposed to be
Never knew the man who knew what's true, all I heard was lie on lie
Some preacher talkin' 'bout peace in some sweet valley by 'n by
Yeah, never knew the man who knew what's true, all I heard was lie
on lie
Some preacher talkin' 'bout peace in some sweet valley by 'n by *
...But I'm not gonna let them catch me, no
Not gonna let 'em catch the Midnight Rider" ²
Biker
Charities
DEDICATED TO: motion picture actor Dennis Hopper, one
of the author's favorite modern entertainers; there is usually something very flawed, human and
interesting about each of the many diverse characters that Mr. Hopper chooses to interpret in
his own unique way.
Credits:
1. Main lyric inspired by "In The Wind" from Easyriders Magazine.
2. "Midnight Rider" by Gregg Allman and Robert Kim Payne; performed by the Allman Brothers Band,
Idlewild South (1970).
*FootNote: Many people in modern American society (such as it is) have their own often
ill-conceived notion of what a "biker" is. A biker once defined a "biker" as someone who
under-stands that no one else is any better than he or she is (i.e., the beginning of
freedom). It is reported that American bikers collectively viewed as a social group raise
more funds for charity per year than any other societal group in the country. Perhaps in
part, the reason is because people who try a lot of avenues and experience a lot of variety in
life sometimes eventually learn that it is 'cool' to help those less fortunate; i.e., it is a
‘better time’ than the vain and hollow pursuit of wealth so incessantly promoted by the American
capitalist system. Undoubtedly in part also, the reason is that, contrary to public
perception, many bikers place a high value on what they view as true "manhood" and
"womanhood". Maybe this will help some of the uninitiated better understand American
bikers. . . Then again, maybe it won't.
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