Ride
J. Valentine & Keyshia Cole Lyrics
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The stairway to the subway in the shadows down below
Following their footsteps through the neon-darkened corridors
Of silent desperation, never speakin' to a soul
The poison air he's breathin' has the dirty smell of dying
'Cause it's never seen the sunshine and it's never felt the rain
But Casey minds the arrows and ignores the fatal echoes
"Oh" she said, "Casey it's been so long since I've seen you"
"Here" she said, "just a kiss to make a body smile"
"See" she said, "I've put on new stockings just to please you"
"Lord" she said, "Casey can you only stay a while?"
Casey leaves the under-ground and stops inside the Golden Crown
For something wet to wipe away the chill that's on his bone
Seeing his reflection in the lives of all the lonely men
Who reach for any thing they can to keep from goin' home
Standin' in the corner Casey drinks his pint of bitter
Never glancing in the mirror at the people passing by
Then he stumbles as he's leaving and he wonders if the reason
Is the beer that's in his belly, or the tear that's in his eye
"Oh" she said, "I suppose you seldom think about me
"Now" she said, "now that you've a family of your own"
"Still" she said, "it's so blessed good to feel your body"
"Lord" she said" "Casey it's a shame to be alone"
The lyrics to J. Valentine & Keyshia Cole's "Ride" paint a picture of a man named Casey who is stuck in a cycle of loneliness and despair. He travels through the subway, avoiding eye contact and conversation with his fellow passengers who are also silently suffering. The surroundings are dark, dirty, and full of poison air. Despite the bleakness, a woman appears and offers Casey a brief moment of happiness with a kiss. She even puts on new stockings to please him. However, Casey's moment of respite is brief, and he continues to the Golden Crown bar where he drinks his pint of bitter and avoids looking in the mirror. As he leaves, he stumbles, unsure if it's due to the beer or the tears in his eyes. The woman reappears, reminding him of their past and how good it feels to be close to someone.
Overall, the lyrics suggest that even in a crowded world, people can still feel lonely and disconnected. The mention of the subway and the Golden Crown bar evoke a sense of gritty realism that highlights the emptiness and desperation felt by Casey and those around him. The woman's presence offers a brief escape and moment of happiness, but it's clear that Casey's underlying issues remain.
Line by Line Meaning
Casey joins the hollow sound of silent people walking down
Casey blends in with the crowd of lifeless commuters
The stairway to the subway in the shadows down below
Descending the stairway into the dismal subway
Following their footsteps through the neon-darkened corridors
Tracing their path through the dimly lit, neon passageways
Of silent desperation, never speakin' to a soul
Hopelessness surrounds him, avoiding all interactions
The poison air he's breathin' has the dirty smell of dying
The toxic air reeks of decay and death
'Cause it's never seen the sunshine and it's never felt the rain
This underground world has never been touched by nature's elements
But Casey minds the arrows and ignores the fatal echoes
He follows the signs and tunes out the deathly sounds
Of the clickin' of the turnstiles and the rattle of his chains
The monotonous sounds of the turnstiles and his own burden are constant reminders of his captivity
"Oh" she said, "Casey it's been so long since I've seen you"
She greets Casey with a longing for his presence
"Here" she said, "just a kiss to make a body smile"
She goes in for a quick kiss to lift his spirits
"See" she said, "I've put on new stockings just to please you"
Her gesture of dressing up demonstrates her love for him
"Lord" she said, "Casey can you only stay a while?"
She implores him to stay, knowing their time is limited
Casey leaves the under-ground and stops inside the Golden Crown
He exits the subway and enters the pub, Golden Crown
For something wet to wipe away the chill that's on his bone
He seeks a drink to alleviate the coldness he feels
Seeing his reflection in the lives of all the lonely men
He recognizes his own loneliness in the other pub patrons
Who reach for any thing they can to keep from goin' home
The other lonely patrons grasp at any excuse to stay at the pub
Standin' in the corner Casey drinks his pint of bitter
Casey stands alone in the corner while drinking his beer
Never glancing in the mirror at the people passing by
He avoids making eye contact with the others around him
Then he stumbles as he's leaving and he wonders if the reason
As he departs, he trips and wonders if it's due to his drink or his emotions
Is the beer that's in his belly, or the tear that's in his eye
He questions if it's the drink or his tears that make him stumble
"Oh" she said, "I suppose you seldom think about me
She acknowledges that he rarely thinks of her
"Now" she said, "now that you've a family of your own"
She acknowledges that he has started his own family
"Still" she said, "it's so blessed good to feel your body"
She relishes feeling close to him again
"Lord" she said" "Casey it's a shame to be alone"
She laments the fact that they are both alone at this moment
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Kris Kristofferson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind