Riding In The Moonlight
Chester Burnett Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Baby, can you ride with Daddy tonight?
O-oh Baby, can you ride with Daddy tonight?
I want you to ride with Daddy, Honey
While the moon is shining bright

Baby, I'm a give you a party tonight
O-ohBaby, I'm a give you a party tonight
I want you to ride with me, Honey
While the moon is shining bright

Baby, I'm a buy you a automobile
O-oh Baby, I'm a buy you a automobile
I want you to ride with Daddy
While the moon is shining bright
Come on ride with me, Baby

Baby, don't have me wasting my time away
O-oh Baby, don't have me wasting my time away




Well, I'm coming by your house
I could be thirty long miles away

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Chester Burnett's "Riding in the Moonlight" is a pleading love song that is centered on a man imploring his lover to accompany him on a romantic and adventurous journey. From the opening lines of the song, we see that the man is asking for her to accompany him to ride with daddy while the moon is shining bright, which is a romantic way of expressing their love for one another amidst the beauty of nature.


The man continued pleading with his lover by telling her that he was going to give her a party that very night. This shows that he is willing to make sacrifices and put in the effort to create lasting memories with her. He goes on to buy her a car, which is a metaphorical representation of his promise to take her wherever she wants to go in life. The song ends with a plea to not make him wait too long before responding to his invitation as he is on his way to her house.


Line by Line Meaning

Baby, can you ride with Daddy tonight?
Daddy is asking Baby to join him for a ride tonight


O-oh Baby, can you ride with Daddy tonight?
Daddy is repeating his request to Baby in a pleading tone


I want you to ride with Daddy, Honey
Daddy desires to have Honey ride with him


While the moon is shining bright
Daddy wants to take Honey for a ride under the moonlight


Baby, I'm a give you a party tonight
Daddy promises to give Baby a party tonight


O-ohBaby, I'm a give you a party tonight
Daddy reiterates his promise to give Baby a party tonight


I want you to ride with me, Honey
Daddy wants Honey to ride with him


While the moon is shining bright
Daddy wants to take Honey for a ride under the moonlight


Baby, I'm a buy you a automobile
Daddy plans to buy an automobile for Baby


O-oh Baby, I'm a buy you a automobile
Daddy repeats his promise to buy an automobile for Baby


I want you to ride with Daddy
Daddy still wants Honey to ride with him


While the moon is shining bright
Daddy still wants to take Honey for a ride under the moonlight


Come on ride with me, Baby
Daddy urges Baby to join him for a ride


Baby, don't have me wasting my time away
Daddy doesn't want Baby to waste his time waiting for her


O-oh Baby, don't have me wasting my time away
Daddy begs Baby not to keep him waiting


Well, I'm coming by your house
Daddy is coming to Baby's house


I could be thirty long miles away
Daddy could come from a far distance to see Baby




Contributed by Isaac H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Sean Guitarglynn

Howling Wolf is not always put up there with some of the other great Blues Harmonica players but he should be. Anything Howling Wolf did as far as the Blues, be it guitar, vocals, harmonica..You get the Blues done as good as it can be done. 

darjeelingtenenbaums

true

manoel luiz teixeira

Demais, voz e estilo único. maneco - Porto Alegre-RS -Brasil.

calldale

This was recorded at KWEM Radio Station in West Memphis, AR by Ike Turner and the Bahari Brothers. Actually Ike probably played the piano. The second recording of the song which was actually released on RPM/Modern sounded totally different because of Willie Steele on guitar. A more rockish, distorted guitar as compared to Calvin Newborns repeated Jazz scales. Calvin actually played the same riff on a B.B. King recording for Bullet Records in 1949 recorded at WDIA Radio Memphis. KWEM Radio

Shellac City

Steele was the drummer. This is clearly Willie Johnson on guitar.

Uri DeYoung

The B.B. King song on Bullet was called "Miss Martha King" from July, 1949.

Me llaman Borrego

Dude, crazy you mention that! I heard that recently and knew it was the same lick, but had no idea it's the same guitarist (makes sense.) Thank you for connecting the dots, it's very satisfying to know who this is. One of my favorite riffs in blues

Ed Burton

Thank you so much for the info- it's cool to know the history of these things. This is actuly one of my favourite Wolf tunes.

ConcertGrande

So Nice my friend ,i love this acetate from 69 years back ...my birthday in fact .
Thanks for posting Howlin Wolf !!! Regards from France

sivvybee

AWESOME

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