The Vegabonds are a Nashville-based American New South Rock band from Alaba… Read Full Bio ↴The Vegabonds are a Nashville-based American New South Rock band from Alabama, United States. The lineup consists of Daniel Allen (lead vocals, songwriter), Richard Forehand (lead guitar, vocals), Paul Bruens (bass), Beau Cooper (songwriter, keyboard, vocals), and Bryan Harris (drums). They have released four studio albums, ten singles, and a live album.

Take a Ride
The Vegabonds Lyrics

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Well I'm running myself crazy,
Trying to pay these bills.
I'm the thinnest I've ever been,
Cuz I can't afford some meals.
But I'm doing what I love,
So I try not to complain.
When there's people losing jobs,
They never liked any way, Every Day.

Every Day.

But I still need a break,
Yeah, every now and then.
Just to clear my head,
And talk to a good ole friend.
So I call you up on a saturday,
To see if you're around.
I got so much that's on my mind,
And I wanna skip this town, Let's Ride.
Do you want to take a ride?

I wanna stay up all night,
Drinkin' beer with my best friend.
I wanna see both of my grand-daddies,
They're the definition of men.
I want to drive fast on those back roads,
Like I did when I was young.
Yeah, break the law then go to church,
Lord forgive me for what I've done.
My people here are real,
They don't leave when times get bad.
They stick around, they lend a hand,
You'll see it for yourself, Let's Ride.
Yeah let's ride.
Do you want to take a ride?

Well I'm headed down to my southern town,
In my heart I call it home.
My family's there, and they understand,
What I'm out here trying to do.
But I can't get there fast enough,
To see my mothers smile.
And hug the neck of my father,
I ain't seen him in a while, Let's Ride.
Yeah let's ride.
Do you want to take a ride?
Yeah.

I wanna stay up all night,
Drinkin' beer with my best friend.
I wanna see both of my grand-daddies,
They're the definition of men.
I want to drive fast on those back roads,
Like I did when I was young.
Yeah, break the law then go to church,
Lord forgive me for what I've done.
My people here are real,
They don't leave when times get bad.
They stick around, they lend a hand,
You'll see it for yourself, Let's Ride.
Yeah let's ride.
Do you want to take a ride?
Oh.

Oh, oh, oh.
Oh, oh, oh.

Take a ride.
Take a ride.
Do you want to take a ride?
Take a ride.

Well I'm headed down to my southern town,
In my heart I call it home.
My family's there, and they understand,
What I'm out here trying to do.
But I can't get there fast enough,
To see my mothers smile.
And hug the neck of my father,
I ain't seen him in a while, Let's Ride.

Let's ride.
I'm headed home tonight.

Overall Meaning

The Vegabonds's song "Take a Ride" is a heartwarming track that speaks to the struggles of pursuing one's passion while balancing the realities of life. The opening lines reflect the pressures of financial insecurity with the singer describing how he is struggling to pay bills and maintain his health. The lyrics acknowledge that there are others facing worse circumstances but also highlight the importance of self-care and the need for a break every now and then.

The chorus expresses the desire to escape the constraints of everyday life and connect with loved ones. The singer yearns for the simple pleasures of spending a night drinking beer with a friend, reminiscing about the past, and engaging in some reckless behavior. He acknowledges that these moments are essential to maintaining one's sanity and recharging one's batteries. The sense of community and belonging is also evident in the lines that describe the singer's hometown and the people who make it special.

The closing lines express the excitement and anticipation of returning home after a period away. The singer's longing to see his family radiates through the words, and the chorus takes on a new significance as a call to action, an invitation to join him on the journey back home.

Overall, "Take a Ride" is a song about the importance of following one's dreams while remembering the people and places that make life worth living. The lyrics convey a sense of resilience and a commitment to staying grounded in the face of life's challenges.

Line by Line Meaning

Well I'm running myself crazy, Trying to pay these bills.
I am working hard to pay my bills and it is taking a toll on my mental health.

I'm the thinnest I've ever been, Cuz I can't afford some meals.
I am struggling to afford food and as a result, I have lost a lot of weight.

But I'm doing what I love, So I try not to complain.
Even though times are tough, I still love what I do, so I try not to complain too much.

When there's people losing jobs, They never liked any way, Every Day. Every Day.
I know there are people who are losing their jobs, but they never really enjoyed what they were doing in the first place.

But I still need a break, Yeah, every now and then.
Sometimes I need to take a break from work to clear my mind.

Just to clear my head, And talk to a good ole friend.
I need to talk to a good friend to help clear my head.

So I call you up on a saturday, To see if you're around.
I reach out to my friend to see if they are available on a Saturday to hang out.

I got so much that's on my mind, And I wanna skip this town, Let's Ride. Do you want to take a ride?
I have a lot on my plate and I want to get away for a while, do you want to join me?

I wanna stay up all night, Drinkin' beer with my best friend.
I want to spend quality time with my best friend, drinking beer all night long.

I wanna see both of my grand-daddies, They're the definition of men.
I want to see my grandfathers, who are role models of masculinity to me.

I want to drive fast on those back roads, Like I did when I was young.
I want to take a nostalgic drive on back roads, reminiscing my younger days.

Yeah, break the law then go to church, Lord forgive me for what I've done.
I want to indulge in some law-breaking activities, but still hold onto my faith.

My people here are real, They don't leave when times get bad.
My community is authentic and supportive, they stand by me even during tough times.

They stick around, they lend a hand, You'll see it for yourself, Let's Ride.
My community members always lend a helping hand to whoever is in need and I want you to witness it with me.

Well I'm headed down to my southern town, In my heart I call it home.
I am going back to my hometown, which has a special place in my heart.

My family's there, and they understand, What I'm out here trying to do.
My family members are supportive of my endeavors and they know what I am trying to achieve.

But I can't get there fast enough, To see my mothers smile.
I am eager to reach home to see my mother's smile.

And hug the neck of my father, I ain't seen him in a while, Let's Ride.
I want to hug my father, whom I haven't seen for a while, so let's get going.

Let's ride. I'm headed home tonight.
Let's hit the road because I want to reach home tonight.

Contributed by Liliana Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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Comments from YouTube:

@hazlo0es33

I don't know why I've never heard you guys. I'm listening your music from Guatemala.

@richardtorymacdonald578

I don't understand why I have never heard of you guys! I listen to several Country stations on Pandora at work every day and you guys have never come across my speakers. Great band!