Born and raised in Buffalo, NY, Nile came from a musical family—his grandfather was a vaudeville pianist who played with Bill "Bojangles" Robinson and Eddie Cantor; his uncles played boogie-woogie. His listened to the music of Elvis Presley, the Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, and Fats Domino, brought home by his older brothers. Nile himself began playing piano at age eight and took classical music lessons until he was a teenager, when he taught himself his first rock & roll song. He soon began to compose short songs and continued the habit into his college years, when during the summers he made trips into New York City to frequent hootenanny clubs like Folk City and the Gaslight.
Nile studied philosophy at the University at Buffalo where he received a BA in 1971, before heading for Greenwich Village. After graduation, Nile took an apartment in the heart of Greenwich Village; however, during his first winter in New York, he contracted pneumonia, which put him out of commission for about a year. He continued writing songs while recuperating, determined to make a name for himself as a latter-day troubadour. That he did throughout the ’70s, becoming a fixture in the Village folk and rock scenes and getting tabbed as the next big thing to come out of that long-thriving artistic community.
He began hanging out at clubs like CBGB's, where he would see bands like Patti Smith, Television, the Ramones and Talking Heads.
EARLY CAREER
Establishing residency at the Village club Kenny's Castaways on Bleecker St., Nile began drawing ever-growing crowds, which in turn led to his first record deal. In a glowing review in The New York Times, rock critic Robert Palmer wrote of Nile; "Every once in awhile the times seems to produce an artist who is at once an iconoclast and near-perfect expression of contemporary currents. He is one of the best singer-songwriters to emerge from the New York scene in a long time."
Following a flurry of critical acclaim, he found himself courted by representatives from close to a dozen record companies; he chose Arista Records, and went into the studio with a band that included Jay Dee Daugherty from the Patti Smith Group. More rave reviews compared the singer to Bob Dylan and Buddy Holly, and called him "a one-man Clash." The excitement surrounding his self-titled debut album, Willie Nile, prompted Pete Townshend to request Willie's presence on the Who 's summer tour. Nile and his band were soon on the road with The Who, only a few months after Willie's first experience playing with a band. After two acclaimed albums, the self-titled 1980 debut and 1981's Golden Down, Nile fell prey to protracted legal problems which derailed his career for a number of years.
RE-EMERGENCE
Although he continued to write, Nile did not perform live or record again until a 1987 performance in Oslo, Norway, with Eric Andersen. A videotape of Nile’s performance in Norway prompted a Columbia talent scout to sign him to the label in 1988, but production on his album didn't start for two more years. Issued in 1991, His Columbia Records CD Places I Have Never Been contained the songs "Everybody Needs A Hammer" and "Heaven Help The Lonely." Places I Have Never Been featured appearances by backing musicians including Richard Thompson, Loudon Wainwright III, Roger McGuinn, and members of the Hooters and the Roches. His 1992 EP release, Hard Times in America, became a favorite among some listeners in Europe.
Nile has recorded and performed with many musicians, including Ringo Starr, Tori Amos, Elvis Costello, Lucinda Williams, Ian Hunter, and Barenaked Ladies. A live Central Park concert album, Willie Nile-Archive Alive, was released on Archive Recordings, and Nile was one of the vocalists on the ensemble album Largo, along with Joan Osborne, Cyndi Lauper, Levon Helm, The Chieftains, Taj Mahal and Carole King. Another project found Nile writing and performing most of the songs for the soundtrack to the Kevin McLaughlin film Pinch Me!
In the fall of 2003, Nile was invited to share the stage at three concerts with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, including the two final Giants Stadium shows.
“Nile’s defining quality is his charismatic spirit. It’s a passion and enthusiasm that is infectious and earned Nile the admiration of fans and peers alike.” From Shea to the clubs and concert halls of Europe, "his live performances are legendary.
Studio albums
* 1980 - Willie Nile
* 1981 - Golden Down
* 1991 - Places I Have Never Been
* 1999 - Beautiful Wreck of the World
* 2006 - Streets of New York
* 2009 - House Of A Thousand Guitars
* 2010 - The Innocent Ones
Live albums
* 1997 - Live in Central Park - Archive Alive!
* 2007 - Live at Turning Point
* 2008 - Live From the Streets of New York
Gathering together his resources over time, he put out his first self-released album, Beautiful Wreck of the World, in 1999. It was chosen as one of the Top Ten Albums of the Year by critics at Billboard Magazine, The Village Voice and Stereo Review. Lucinda Williams called "On the Road to Calvary," Nile's song for Jeff Buckley, "One of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard." The album reached the finals of the Independent Music Awards for Best Rock Album of the Year.
In 2006, Nile released Streets of New York, which some consider to be his best work to date, due to quality production and clever songwriting. Former Time magazine music critic and Academy Award winning screenwriter Jay Cocks writes of Streets of New York, "The tunes he writes and plays with such blowtorch vibrancy get the myth and magic and danger and sadness and love in this town--of this town--truer, and righter, than anything I've heard since Dion. This record is a head-twister and heart-wrencher. It's rock and roll at its best. It's New York at its best. And there's nothing better than that."[citation needed]
House Of A Thousand Guitars was released on April 14, 2009.
On September 30, 2009, at his show at Giants Stadium in E. Rutherford, NJ, Bruce Springsteen invited Nile on stage to play with the E Street Band.
In addition, on November 22, 2009 Bruce Springsteen again invited him onstage to play the second last song of Springsteen's final concert of his tour, which was in Willie's hometown of Buffalo at HSBC Arena. Nile joined Springsteen and the E Street Band for the cover of Jackie Wilson's "Higher and Higher".
American Ride
Willie Nile Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Got my bag and my guitar gonna get out fast
Going cross the border to the Jersey shore
On down to Philly where they know the score
Pittburgh DC Ohio tell me pretty baby do you wanna go
On an American ride
Heading down to Memphis on the 419
Passing through Kentucky ‘cross the county line
The brother's on the radio sure found fine
Nashville, Charlotte, say good bye
We're going out tonight just you and I
On a American ride
So ride, ride, ride with me baby come on
Ride, ride, ride with my baby come on
These roads can take us coast to coast
From points unknown all the way back home
On an American ride
Rolling by the river down to Baton Rouge
The music in the Delta gonna cure my blues
Jackson Mississippi won't you make my day
We're taking 95 down the FLA
Once we hit the Keys gonna make a toast
Then head on west to the California coast
On an American ride
Mobile Alabama won't you sing my song
Louisiana, Oklahoma all night long
Crossing into Texas don't hesitate
Freedom waits by the Golden Gate
Midnight the desert Santa Fe
Utah, Arizona yeah we're on our way
On an American ride
So ride, ride, ride with me baby come on
Ride, ride, ride with my baby come on
Where the god the bad the in between
All live together on our TV screen
On an American ride
The moon is on the rise the country's in disguise
I've got the motor running babe
There's magic in your eyes
The lyrics of Willie Nile's "American Ride" depict a road trip across America, from the typical urban cityscapes of New York City and Philadelphia through to the dusty deserts of Utah and Arizona. The singer has packed his bag and guitar and is eager to leave the city behind for a new adventure. As he travels through the cities and states of America, he is in search of the soul and spirit of the country, the cultural and natural wonders that make it unique. Throughout his journey, he looks for the blues, country, and rock and roll music that America is famous for, finding inspiration in the likes of Elvis Presley and the Reverend Green. The song speaks of the shared experiences and diverse communities that make up America, reflecting on the nation's past but also its potential for growth and unity, as they journey along on an "American ride."
The idea of a "road trip" is a popular trope across different artistic mediums, from literature to music and film, and has been an iconic part of American culture since the emergence of the automobile. Willie Nile's "American Ride" is no exception, capturing the spirit of adventure, self-discovery and the search for the American Dream that is often synonymous with the road. The song itself is a homage to the people and places that make America unique, blending the sounds and styles that have helped shape the music and culture of the nation.
Line by Line Meaning
Leaving New York City with a tank of gas
Starting a new journey from New York with enough fuel to keep going
Got my bag and my guitar gonna get out fast
Bringing only necessary things and leaving quickly
Going cross the border to the Jersey shore
Entering another state, moving towards the coast
On down to Philly where they know the score
Heading towards Philadelphia, where people know what's up
Pittsburgh DC Ohio tell me pretty baby do you wanna go
Traveling through different states, asking if a companion wants to join
Heading down to Memphis on the 419
Going south to Memphis on a specific highway
Looking for Elvis Presley and the Reverend Green
Searching for cultural icons associated with Memphis
Passing through Kentucky ‘cross the county line
Passing over a particular boundary while moving through Kentucky
The brother's on the radio sure found fine
Enjoying music from the radio
Nashville, Charlotte, say good bye
Saying farewell to cities on the way
We're going out tonight just you and I
Going out with a companion
Heading down to Memphis on the 419
Going south to Memphis on a specific highway
On a American ride
Taking a journey through America
Rolling by the river down to Baton Rouge
Traveling close to a river towards Baton Rouge
The music in the Delta gonna cure my blues
Enjoying music associated with the Mississippi Delta region as a remedy for unhappiness
Jackson Mississippi won't you make my day
Asking Jackson to make the journey more enjoyable
We're taking 95 down the FLA
Taking route 95 down to Florida
Once we hit the Keys gonna make a toast
Celebrating after reaching the Florida Keys
Then head on west to the California coast
Traveling to the west coast of California
On an American ride
Continuing the American journey
Mobile Alabama won't you sing my song
Asking Mobile to add to the enjoyable journey with music
Louisiana, Oklahoma all night long
Traveling through different states through the night
Crossing into Texas don't hesitate
Entering Texas promptly
Freedom waits by the Golden Gate
Symbolically seeing freedom when passing through the Golden Gate bridge
Midnight the desert Santa Fe
Reaching Santa Fe at midnight, passing through the desert
Utah, Arizona yeah we're on our way
On the way through Utah and Arizona
So ride, ride, ride with me baby come on
Asking a companion to come along for the journey
Where the god the bad the in between
Experiencing different parts of society throughout the journey
All live together on our TV screen
Seeing the diversity of American culture on television
On an American ride
Enjoying the American journey
The moon is on the rise the country's in disguise
Seeing the changes in the country throughout the journey
I've got the motor running babe
Excited and ready to continue the journey
There's magic in your eyes
Noticing the wonder and beauty of the world along the way
Contributed by Nora P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
mark quick
Love this guy, love this song. I feel it’s more of a ‘patriot’ tune than Lee Greenwoods 'God Bless the USA' or any of that other cheese. Kind of a modern day 'This Land Is Your Land'. Willie....someday we'll build a statue of you! ;-)
lindalovesmusic
Love this, great lyrics! love Willie, he is a sweetheart : )
Kathryn Hayzer
Love it Willie! "There's magic in your eyes"
avera yugen
I thought that picture of the kid in the undershirt was a young Willie.
Bill King
Been hearing this song worked on at gigs over a year So happy it's finally here.
U2onTV
Great song and cool video. I can see Springsteen covering this tune.
Kehlog Albran
Keep rockin Willie.
rosa ital
what a great voice,song,willie one of the best musicians around,,,great performer,,,love u willie
Kathleen Thomas
Love this.... makes me want to start packing for a road trip.
Paul Carruthers
Free uplifting and well released lyrics, Thank you Willie!!!