The four-time Grammy winner has acted in a number of films and been a guest-star on television. Lovett was married to actress Julia Roberts for a short time in the mid-1990s. In 2002, he was gored by a bull while working on his uncle's farm in Texas, but soon recovered and resumed touring.
Nothing But A Good Ride
Lyle Lovett Lyrics
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He hopes a tire don't blow
Up near Albuquerque
He'll fuel and get some coffee
Cline's Corners truck stop
A waitress with a wet mop
Telling him to don't walk
He tips his hat and don't talk
He knows it's nothing but a good ride
No there's nothing there he can't slide
No there's nothing that he won't spin
No there's nothing to it do it again
No it's nothing but the big show
No there's nowhere that he won't go
No he never has to ask why
He knows it's nothing but a good ride
He says there's something about a sunrise
Waking up sleepy eyed
He says there's something about a highway
Telling him he can't stay
He says there's something about a long drive
That gives him some peace of mind
And there's something that he can't take
When he's coming in second place
He knows it's nothing but a good ride
No there's nothing there he can't slide
No there's nothing that he won't spin
No there's nothing to it do it again
No it's nothing but the big show
No there's nowhere that he won't go
No he never has to ask why
He knows it's nothing but a good ride
And when it's all over
He'll move a little slower
He'll back up to the trailer
And look toward Oklahoma
He'll pull out right through the middle of town
And watch the sun start sinking down
Still just lighting up the road signs
Getting ready for the next time.
He knows it's nothing but a good ride
No there's nothing there he can't slide
No there's nothing that he won't spin
No there's nothing to it do it again
No it's nothing but the big show
No there's nowhere that he won't go
No he never has to ask why
He knows it's nothing but a good ride
In Lyle Lovett's song "Nothing But A Good Ride," the lyrics portray the travels of a man who is driving a long distance between cities. He's nervous about a tire blowing out and is aiming to make it safely to his destination. Along the way, he stops to fuel up and grab some coffee at Cline's Corners truck stop in Albuquerque. He tips his hat to the waitress who tells him not to walk on the wet floor caused by the mop.
The man expresses his love for the open road and driving. He enjoys the feeling he gets when driving on highways and long stretches of roadways. He likes to drive until he's tired and then rest to watch the sunrise or sunset. Driving gives him a sense of peace and excitement, and he doesn't mind coming in second place because he knows it's all part of the journey. The song speaks to the theme of enjoying the journey and not just focusing on the destination.
Line by Line Meaning
He's pulling out for Reno
He's leaving for Reno
He hopes a tire don't blow
He hopes his tire doesn't blow while driving
Up near Albuquerque
He will be passing Albuquerque
He'll fuel and get some coffee
He will stop to refuel his vehicle and get some coffee
Cline's Corners truck stop
He will stop at a truck stop called Cline's Corners
A waitress with a wet mop
A waitress cleaning up the floor
Telling him to don't walk
The waitress tells him not to walk on the wet floor
He tips his hat and don't talk
He nods politely and doesn't speak
He knows it's nothing but a good ride
He knows that the journey will be enjoyable
No there's nothing there he can't slide
He can handle any obstacle that comes his way
No there's nothing that he won't spin
He can overcome any challenge
No there's nothing to it do it again
He is ready to do it all over again
No it's nothing but the big show
Life is like a big show
No there's nowhere that he won't go
He is willing to travel anywhere
No he never has to ask why
He doesn't need a reason for his actions
He says there's something about a sunrise
He finds something special about watching the sunrise
Waking up sleepy eyed
He wakes up feeling groggy
He says there's something about a highway
He finds something remarkable about driving on the highway
Telling him he can't stay
The highway is telling him to keep moving
He says there's something about a long drive
He finds something therapeutic about taking long drives
That gives him some peace of mind
Driving long distances gives him a sense of calm
And there's something that he can't take
He can't handle coming in second place
When he's coming in second place
He doesn't like being in second place
And when it's all over
When his journey is complete
He'll move a little slower
He will slow down after his trip
He'll back up to the trailer
He will reverse his vehicle to attach the trailer
And look toward Oklahoma
He will gaze in the direction of Oklahoma
He'll pull out right through the middle of town
He will drive through the town center
And watch the sun start sinking down
He will witness the sunset
Still just lighting up the road signs
The sun is still providing light to the road signs
Getting ready for the next time.
He is getting ready for his next journey
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: LYLE LOVETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind