BIG AL'S JOVIAL JUKEBOX #17: "Baby Ride Easy" by CARLENE CARTER and DAVE EDMUNDS, 1980

Albie's Note:  In 1980, when I was a junior in high school, 2 of my all-time favorite performers -- both of them great singers with definite Rockabilly tendencies [Praise God!]-- teamed up for this unlikely duet that peaked on the American country charts at a measly #79 [although I have read it was a much bigger hit in England.]  The song itself was a neo-cowboy song that had floated around Nashville in various slower versions until Carter [bleach-blonde descendent of country's founding family] and Edmunds [Welsh guitar hero and best friend of Carter's then-husband Nick Lowe] decided to speed it up into this quirky classic.  I have always thought the poem of the song was kind of a redneck parody version of "If I Were A Carpenter." I like to imagine that Carlene-- daughter of June Carter Cash herself-- thought so, too. In any case I always liked the playfulness of the whole production.

BABY RIDE EASY

If I drove a truck
And I were waitress
And I ordered coffee
And I poured you some

Then you'd stop by on your way sometime later
And if we arm-wrestled
I'd say that you won

Chorus

Ai-eeee my baby, ride easy
Ride high in the saddle all day
If your lovin' is good
And your cookin' ain't greasy
HITCH UP the chuck wagon
And we'll ride away

If I were a winsome, hale senorita
And I a bull-fighter, down in the sand
While the band kept on playing that "Old Paso Doble"
I'd throw you a flower
Would you take my hand?

Chorus
If I ran the country
Yeah I'd be your first lady
And fix up the white house
While you were away
Waitin' while I'm passing time with world leaders
And later together alone we might lay

Repeat Chorus twice

HITCH UP the chuck wagon and we'll ride away
HITCH UP the chuck wagon and we'll ride away
HITCH UP the chuck wagon
HITCH UP the chuck wagon
HITCH UP the chuck wagon
HITCH UP the chuck wagon and we'll ride away

 

 

PEACE