Ridin' On
Little Caesar Lyrics
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In a worn-out leather jacket
Where he used to make his home
His luggage was the bags beneath his eyes
And we′re ridin' on, ridin′ on
With a sense of decency
Secure in insecurity
I should′ve told him
I loved him ridin' next to me
Ridin′ next to me
He was sorta antisocial
Didn't know from mediocrity
We never entertained the notion
That he and us could be
Only just a memory
And we′re ridin' on, ridin′ on
With a new desire
We shoulda tried and make 'em see
And we're ridin′ on, ridin′ on
I shoulda told him
I loved him ridin' next to me
Ridin′ next to me
Ridin' next to me
Ridin′ next to me
We'll be ridin′
So fine, the sands fall through your fingers
Before you know they're history
But still I find he's on my mind
The separation, he took a little part of me
But we′re ridin′ on, ridin' on
I must admit it
Through all the painful memories
We′ll be ridin' on, ridin′ on
I miss the comfort
I miss him ridin' next to me
Ridin′ next to me
Ridin' next to me
Ridin' next to me
I miss him ridin′, ridin′ on
Ridin', ridin′ on
Ridin', ridin′ on with me, oh, yeah
The lyrics to Little Caesar's song, "Ridin' On," are an emotional tribute to someone the singer has lost but still thinks about. The opening lines establish that this man was not just a drifter but was someone who had made a home for himself, albeit in a worn-out leather jacket. The bags beneath his eyes indicate that he carried a lot of emotional baggage with him, and the singer expresses regret for not telling this man he loved him when he was riding next to him.
The second verse suggests that this man was somewhat antisocial and didn't fit in with those around him. Despite that, the singer wishes they had tried harder to make him feel welcome and valued in their company. The passage of time has made this man's presence even more poignant, as the sands of time have slipped through their fingers. Even though he may be gone, the singer misses the comfort of having him ride next to him.
Throughout the song, the singer expresses feelings of pain and regret for not fully appreciating the man who was riding next to him. Despite this, they keep "ridin' on," with a "sense of decency secure in insecurity," as they come to terms with their loss.
Line by Line Meaning
He was more than just a drifter
He had a story and a past that made him more than just someone passing through.
In a worn-out leather jacket
He wore a jacket that had seen better days, but it was likely a source of comfort and protection for him.
Where he used to make his home
Despite being a wanderer, he had a place that felt like home to him at some point.
His luggage was the bags beneath his eyes
He carried all the evidence of the harsh realities he'd experienced in life under his eyes - showing how tired and weary he was.
And we're ridin' on, ridin' on
With a sense of decency
Secure in insecurity
We're moving forward, maybe hesitantly or unsure, but still holding onto our dignity and honor.
I should've told him
I loved him ridin' next to me
Ridin' next to me
Now that he's gone or no longer with us, we regret not being more expressive of our affection and appreciation for him when we had the chance.
He was sorta antisocial
Didn't know from mediocrity
We never entertained the notion
That he and us could be
Only just a memory
He was aloof and detached, and we never considered that he might have actually connected with us (which makes his absence even more poignant). We thought the only lasting imprint he would leave on our lives was the memory of him.
And we're ridin' on, ridin' on
With a new desire
We shoulda tried and make 'em see
But, in remembrance of him, we're now moving forward with a fresh perspective and a renewed drive to reach out to those who may seem out of reach, in hopes of not losing someone like that again.
I miss the comfort
I miss him ridin' next to me
Even as we move forward, we acknowledge the sadness of his absence and the peace we took from his quiet presence beside us.
So fine, the sands fall through your fingers
Before you know they're history
But still I find he's on my mind
The separation, he took a little part of me
Time passes quickly and we often forget what we once held dear. But, even as life moves on, his memory stays with us and the loss of him still weighs on our hearts.
I must admit it
Through all the painful memories
Even as we remember him, we know that there were still difficult times or unpleasant moments. But we must face those things in order to keep him alive in our hearts.
Ridin', ridin' on
Ridin', ridin' on with me, oh, yeah
Ultimately, we'll continue on, riding with the memory of him always by our side.
Writer(s): Little Caesar
Contributed by John N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.