Hampton has achieved both critical and popular success, winning multiple awards from the Western Music Association and the Academy of Western Artists and a pair of Wrangler Awards from the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, as well as developing a widespread devoted fan base.
After more than a decade as a dedicated cowboy enjoying the hard-working western ranch lifestyle, Hampton decided to explore his other passion: music. In 1984, R.W. released his first album, Travelin’ Light, and began building a reputation for his songwriting and performance talents, with appearances at The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee and the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.
Throughout the 1990s, Hampton continued his prolific recording career, with 5 albums in 6 years from 1994 to 1999. In 1996, R.W. received the Academy of Western Artists’ first Will Rogers Awards honoring him with both Male Vocalist of the Year and Entertainer of the Year. A year later, his album, Ridin’ The Dreamland Range, won recognition as the association’s Album of the Year. The Academy named Hampton its Male Vocalist of the Year again in 1999.
The 1990s also saw Hampton’s skills as a playwright blossom. The one-man stage play The Last Cowboy was written with his brother, Jeff, and playwright Dave Marquis in 1993. The show has received high praise not only for Hampton’s performance, but for his insightful interpretation of the cowboy past as well. In addition, his album, The Last Cowboy – His Journey, which was inspired by the play, earned him his first Wrangler Award in 2000 for Excellence in Dramatic Presentation and Original Music Composition from the National Cowboy Museum and Western Heritage Center.
Hampton’s success continued into the 2000s with a Western Music Association award for Top Male Performer in 2004. In 2006, R.W. won the WMA Song of the Year award for his composition "For the Freedom" (which appears on his album I Believe). As described by American Cowboy magazine, "For The Freedom" "touches the heart in a personal way. Regardless of how one feels about war, it beautifully honors the soldiers’ work and commitment." [1]
In 2008, R.W. won his second Western Heritage Award, this time for his album Oklahoma… Where the West Remains! which was named Outstanding Traditional Western Album. The album is Hampton’s first performance with a full orchestra, and was praised by Western Horseman magazine for showcasing Hampton’s “deep, velvety vocals, idyllic lyrics and cowboy authenticity” which has “captivated audiences worldwide.” [2]
Ridin
R.W. Hampton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cannot take it now
Millions on my mind
My pockets were left bare
I looked to you and called
And you ain't really care
Look who's riding off
Ok
Ok
Ok
Ok
Ok
Ok
People made their beds, let them lye in them for christ sakes
I Got a tired eye, with a sharper mind
Got a list of things to remind myself
Why I try so hard
And if you play with me. I better not be someone you ever need
I got a book of plays that I ain't play
Yet... watch their faces that never made, sense till I said it just now
Just now. Just now
I've been riding around all day
With my mind all in a haze
Shouldn't have shined at all in a cave
But im that raw. Yall are fake
And im tired of all of yall shit. Yall be lying about what you say
And im clocking in on my shifts and thats night in and thats day...
I've been grinding that's all I call say
Im amazed at all thats changed
Im surprised that I don't hate
With a smile all on my face. Yeaaa
I watched the way they embraced me
They don't know what it takes they lazy
Now they calling me complacent, when I was the one to never say shit and
I was the one to forget about now forget about me
Yall just hated on me cuz you never happy
Words don't work
I even tried apologizing that didn't happen
Had to try a different strategy. Fuck the whole world
With no Vaseline my money better come quick
I got stacks to meet. R1
Look who riding off
Cannot take it now
Millions on my mind
My pockets were left bare
I looked to you and called
And you ain't really care
Look who's riding off
I think so quick and the shit I seen
Makes me so sick but I don't need i.v's people switched no u.a.v's.
Tit for tat, tatted ass and titties
I got a dick to ride so she fucken with me
She don't want whats in me
She just want friendly inside her belly, till her jelly bean swells
Hold up bitch, I got to make me a sale
To me its funny
I used less of the G code
In the streets im running
Got a creative mind with a heap of honey for the bee's im buzzing
Foo's cringe deep when I creep like nothing, but I ain't shit I had to find me a job
That tells you, the bullshit im on
Had troubles trusting in God
Now I trust him more than everyone
No big work so thats hard to deal with
People I know went about their business
While I stayed in my thoughts day dreaming
They act like they didn't but they seen me, only calls from them when they need me
I'm confident they don't think I know
Thats a compliment that they think im slow
I'm competent I just need more dough
And all of this I mean sincerely
That bullshit you on don't want near me
You got some evil shit in your heart
And I ain't tryna play a part
I'm good...
The song "Ridin" by R.W. Hampton is a melodic expression of the artist's journey of self-discovery and realization. The lyrics are somewhat cryptic and can be interpreted in many different ways, but one common thread that runs throughout is the idea that the artist is leaving behind the negative aspects of their past and moving forward in a positive direction.
The first verse seems to be addressing someone who has wronged the artist in some way. The line "Look who's riding off" implies a sense of triumph or victory, as if the artist is finally moving on from this person or situation. The next few lines suggest that the artist has been through a difficult time and is now focused on making money and pursuing their own goals. The final line of the verse, "Look who's riding off," is repeated as a sort of refrain throughout the song, perhaps symbolizing the artist's newfound freedom or independence.
In the second verse, the artist reflects on their own struggles and achievements. They talk about being tired but determined, and having a "sharper mind" despite their weariness. The line "if you play with me, I better not be someone you ever need" suggests that the artist has little patience for people who aren't genuine or trustworthy. The lines "I got a book of plays that I ain't play yet" and "I've been grinding that's all I call say / I'm amazed at all that's changed" both suggest that the artist is still growing and learning, and that they have many more accomplishments ahead of them.
The third verse is perhaps the most difficult to interpret. The artist talks about people "switching" and "cringing" in response to their actions, and hints at some sort of sexual encounter. They also talk about running "in the streets," which could have many different connotations. Overall, the verse seems to suggest that the artist is still navigating a complex and sometimes dangerous world, but that they are confident in their ability to navigate it successfully.
Overall, "Ridin" is a powerful and evocative song that speaks to the universal themes of struggle, growth, and self-discovery. The lyrics are often cryptic and open to interpretation, but the overall message of the song is one of strength and resilience in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Look who riding off
The singer is leaving, and the listener(s) are noticing it.
Cannot take it now
The listener(s) are feeling overwhelmed with the situation.
Millions on my mind
The singer is thinking about making a lot of money.
My pockets were left bare
The artist currently has no money.
I looked to you and called
The artist asked for help from the listener(s).
And you ain't really care
The listener(s) did not help the singer when asked.
I Got a tired eye, with a sharper mind
The singer is tired, but still very alert.
Got a list of things to remind myself
The artist has a list of important things to remember.
Why I try so hard
The artist is questioning the reason behind putting in so much effort.
And if you play with me. I better not be someone you ever need
Don't mess with the artist, or you might regret it.
I got a book of plays that I ain't play
The singer has a lot of great ideas, but has not put them into action yet.
Yet... watch their faces that never made, sense till I said it just now
The artist's ideas may not make sense to others until they are explained.
I've been riding around all day
The singer has been driving around all day.
With my mind all in a haze
The singer is feeling a bit confused or disoriented.
Shouldn't have shined at all in a cave
The singer feels like they shouldn't have gotten noticed in a bad situation.
But im that raw. Yall are fake
The artist considers themselves to be real, while others are fake.
And im tired of all of yall shit. Yall be lying about what you say
The artist is fed up with people who lie.
And im clocking in on my shifts and thats night in and thats day...
The singer is always working, both during the day and the night.
I've been grinding that's all I call say
The singer has been working hard for a long time.
Im amazed at all thats changed
The artist is surprised at how much things have changed around them.
Im surprised that I don't hate
Despite everything, the artist does not hate anyone.
With a smile all on my face. Yeaaa
Despite everything, the artist is happy.
I watched the way they embraced me
The singer took note of how people reacted to them.
They don't know what it takes they lazy
The artist thinks that others are not willing to put in the same amount of work as they are.
Now they calling me complacent, when I was the one to never say shit and
Others are criticizing the singer for not speaking up, but they used to be quiet.
I was the one to forget about now forget about me
The singer used to forget about others, but now others are forgetting about them.
Yall just hated on me cuz you never happy
Others dislike the singer because they are not happy with their own lives.
Words don't work
Words alone are not effective at solving problems.
I even tried apologizing that didn't happen
The artist apologized, but it did not solve anything.
Had to try a different strategy. Fuck the whole world
The singer had to change their approach and is now very negative towards everyone.
With no Vaseline my money better come quick
The singer is in a tough situation and desperately needs money.
I got stacks to meet. R1
The artist needs to make a lot of money quickly.
I think so quick and the shit I seen
The artist is quick to process information and has seen a lot of bad things.
Makes me so sick but I don't need i.v's people switched no u.a.v's.
The artist is disgusted by others and does not need medical help.
Tit for tat, tatted ass and titties
The singer is talking about sexual situations.
I got a dick to ride so she fucken with me
The artist is being sexually suggestive.
She don't want whats in me
The singer thinks the other person is only interested in sex and does not care about them.
She just want friendly inside her belly, till her jelly bean swells
The other person only wants a physical relationship that may result in pregnancy.
Hold up bitch, I got to make me a sale
The singer needs to make money and may not have time for the other person.
To me its funny
The artist finds something humorous.
I used less of the G code
The artist is not involved in illegal activity as much.
In the streets im running
The singer is involved in street life.
Got a creative mind with a heap of honey for the bee's im buzzing
The singer has a lot of great ideas.
Foo's cringe deep when I creep like nothing, but I ain't shit I had to find me a job
Others are scared of the artist, but the artist is not very important and has to work a normal job.
That tells you, the bullshit im on
The artist is doing something that others might consider to be foolish.
Had troubles trusting in God
The artist has struggled with their faith.
Now I trust him more than everyone
The singer has found comfort in their faith over trusting others.
No big work so thats hard to deal with
The artist is having a hard time finding work.
People I know went about their business
The singer's acquaintances are not helping them.
While I stayed in my thoughts day dreaming
The singer spends a lot of time thinking and dreaming.
They act like they didn't but they seen me, only calls from them when they need me
The singer's acquaintances pretend to not see them and only call when they want something.
I'm confident they don't think I know
The artist believes their acquaintances underestimate their intelligence.
Thats a compliment that they think im slow
The artist finds it flattering that others think they are less intelligent than they actually are.
I'm competent I just need more dough
The singer is confident in their abilities, but needs more money.
And all of this I mean sincerely
The singer is being honest and truthful.
That bullshit you on don't want near me
The artist does not want to be associated with negative things.
You got some evil shit in your heart
The artist thinks that the other person is very negative.
And I ain't tryna play a part
The artist is not interested in pretending to be someone they're not.
I'm good...
The singer is doing well, despite everything.
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Richard Rodriguez
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind