Ridin’ the Storm Out

Ridin’ the storm out, waitin’ for the thaw out
On a full moon night in the Rocky Mountain winter.
My wine bottle’s low, watching for the snow
I’ve been thinking lately of what I’m missing in the city.

And I’m not missing a thing
Watchin’ the full moon crossing the range
Ridin’ the storm out
Ridin’ the storm out.

My lady’s beside me, she’s there to guide me.
She says that alone we’ve finally found home.
The wind outside is frightening,
but it’s kinder than the lightning life in the city.
It’s a hard life to live but it gives back what you give.

Words & Music Gary Richrath
©1973 CBS Inc., all rights reserved

My eyes are aching from the weight on them
The pain of living is such a bore
To make you happy I must bend for you
But I can’t take it anymore.

And all the morning birds may laugh at me
But they’ve got the same straight jobs to do
And I can’t see who is the biggest fool of all
With my eyes all scarred from a whiskey night.

I stumbled around with my eyes half closed
And curse the sun for being so bright
I hold you close, feel your warmth and wonder why
The river of life for you runs right.

And all the morning birds may laugh at me
But they’ve got the same straight jobs to do
And I can’t see who is the biggest fool of all
With my eyes all scarred from a whiskey night.

My head is poundin’ as I’m sittin’ here
And my mind’s not workin’ like it should
Come on, guitar, you’ve got to save me
And get me back feelin’ like I should.

Words & Music Gary Richrath
©1973 CBS Inc., all rights reserved

My whole life rides on the mood of my lady
Her ups and downs are turning my life around
She’s happy today, it’s like a breath of new life
But tomorrow her sorrow will tear me down.

Slowly, oh slowly I can tell that she needs me
It shows right through the walls she’s built around herself
Oh higher, oh higher I’m climbing in her eyes
It’s a servant she wants but a man she must have.

Oh, Oh woman I need you like I never needed anyone
Oh, Oh woman like the morning needs the sun
Oh, Oh woman you know that our lives have just begun
I’ll behave, Oh woman, ’cause I’m your slave.

Oh, two lives in tune, it’s a delicate balance to keep
We’ll stand together but never too near
Oh, hold me close but don’t you smother me
I’ll speak of my love but only for you to hear.

Oh, Oh woman I need you like I never needed anyone
Oh, Oh woman like the morning needs the sun
Oh, Oh woman you know that our lives have just begun
I’ll behave, Oh woman, ’cause I’m your slave.

Words & Music Gary Richrath
©1973 CBS Inc., all rights reserved

Backwoods killer from a river town
A mixed up kid that let his hair hang down
High school rebel, he’s always been bad
And his poor old man’s still wond’ring ’bout the lad
But he’s gone, gone away to find his fortune.

There’s a long-haired lady lookin’ for a home
With her young son, he’d left them both alone
And his black-haired lover’s got a broken heart
‘Cause her lonely boy just won’t play the part
‘Cause he’s gone, gone away to find his fortune.

And it’s been a long, long way
From that little town to L.A.
And I can’t turn around
Ladies, I’m gone, gone away to find my fortune.

A restless nature fed my crazy dreams
So I packed my bags in a big limousine
laughed at the people who were laughin’ at me
Laughed and said I’m gonna be what I be
And I’m gone, gone away to find my fortune.

Words & Music Gary Richrath
©1973 CBS Inc., all rights reserved

Say you know you’ve got to run
You know you’ve got to hide
You don’t know who to follow
Or who is on your side
You don’t know where you’re goin’
You won’t talk of where you’ve been
And I may see you tomorrow
Or nevermore again.

And I’ve seen you in the cities
I’ve seen you on the road
And your face is all a-twisted
’cause your brain is a heavy load
And then you turn and ask me
Say how will I ever know
And you talk of all your searchin’
But I think it’s all for show

Open up my friend
Love someone if you can
Go on, let her in
Open up again.

And I hear your mournful songs
I hear your painful crys
And I’ve seen the light of hunger
Linger deep within your eyes
And you talk about your sinkin’
And what a hole you’re in
You expect for me to love you
When you hate yourself my friend.

And you’ve got yourself a potion
Oh to keep you from your sleep
In that dark and lonely hour
Well I’ve heard you laugh and weep
But you’ll always be a-runnin’
Runnin’ till you find your doom
‘Cause you never face your lonely soul
You never face the gloom.

Open up my friend
Love someone if you can
Go on, let her in
Open up again.

Words & Music Stephen Stills
©1973 CBS Inc., all rights reserved

I was sittin’ with the sun, meltin’ into the horizon
High in the hills, up above Topanga canyon
And I’ve never been to any other place that made me feel more like movin’
Made me feel like movin’.

Stopped into a shop where I met a young lady
She thought I ought to move, she said livin’ here could save me
Oh and I’ve never been with any other girl who made me feel more like movin’
She made me feel just like movin’.

But I used to wonder why people got so excited
About movin’ to California
I’ve only been here a week but I’ve been enlightened
To a whole new way of life
And it makes me feel just like movin’.

I was sittin’ with the sun, meltin’ into the horizon
High in the hills, up above Topanga canyon
And I’ve never been to any other place that made me feel more like movin’
Made me feel like movin’.

But I used to wonder why people got so excited
About movin’ to California
I’ve only been here a week but I’ve been enlightened
To a whole new way of life
And it makes me feel just like movin’.

Words & Music Kevin Cronin
©1973 CBS Inc., all rights reserved

Hometown lady, leavin’ for the city
Bags in hand, she’s boardin’ the train
Her last look through the window, I saw her eyes were as red as mine
I waved goodbye but I can’t believe she’s leaving.

But a woman can’t be high-class
In a lonely farmer’s town
And the son of a poor man
Ain’t gonna turn your head around
But if you ever get lonely
Just pick up the telephone
And the son of a poor man will bring you home.

Maybe soon I’ll see her on some television show
Painted lips and fingers singing for the world
A fashion plate for sure dancin’ for your plastic world
Call me up if you can but if not well I’ll understand

But a woman can’t be high-class
In a lonely farmer’s town
And the son of a poor man
Ain’t gonna turn your head around
But if you ever get lonely
Just pick up the telephone
And the son of a poor man will bring you home.

Words & Music Gary Richrath
©1973 CBS Inc., all rights reserved

Go home, pretender
I think this is the end here
It’s been a long time decidin’
But I think I’ve found the right end.

You’re gonna go away, start a new life
Forget today, start a new life
Start a new life.

Hopes crushed and battered
But you laugh as if it didn’t matter
This joke is gonna turn blue
And I won’t be there to hold you.

You’re gonna go away, start a new life
Forget today, start a new life
Start a new life.

Go home, debater
It was soon and now it’s later
And that’s only a piece of paper
So don’t you stand there a-laughin’ and a-wavin’ it.

You’re gonna go away, start a new life
Forget today, start a new life
Start a new life.

Words & Music Gary Richrath
©1973 CBS Inc., all rights reserved

Lookin’ for a love
Searchin’ everywhere
I can’t get enough and I don’t really care
If it takes a lot of waitin’
‘Cause I’ve got the time to spare
It’s gonna take a lot more lovin’
But we got plenty of that around here.

Laughin’ heading home a woman could be fine
Flying back alone, I don’t really mind
‘Cause it gives me the time for thinking
How so many people just ruin their lives
Folks miss out on so much lovin’
By picking it up before it arrives.

I can’t see it but I know when it’s there
I can just feel it, it’s everywhere
I can’t see it but I know when it’s there
I can just feel it, it’s everywhere.

Lookin’ for a love
Searchin’ everywhere
I can’t get enough and I don’t really care
If it takes a lot of waitin’
‘Cause I’ve got the time to spare
It’s gonna take a lot more lovin’
But we got plenty of that around here.

I can’t see it but I know when it’s there
I can just feel it, it’s everywhere
I can’t see it but I know when it’s there
I can just feel it, it’s everywhere.

Words & Music Kevin Cronin
©1973 CBS Inc., all rights reserved

Have you ever ridden horses through a rainstorm
Or led a lion through a busy street bazaar
There are many things I’d love to turn you on to
But somehow I feel they’re safer where they are.

Well some people in bound infatuation
While some others spell depression as the law
Someone’s mother getting no imagination
So beware then, baby, sin is at everyone’s door.

Don’t be the man I know with no expressions lord
Ain’t got none at all
Pity the man I know with no expressions lord
Ain’t got none at all

But you’ll never, no you’ll never see this man laughing
Come to think of it, I’ve never seen this man cry
But you might by sitting quietly hear him singing
By and by, he’ll stop and sigh, his voice will even start to speak and he will say goodbye.

Have you ever ridden horses through a rainstorm
Or led a lion through a busy street bazaar
There are many things I’d love to turn you on to
But somehow I feel they’re safer where they are.

Words & Music Terry Reid
©1973 CBS Inc., all rights reserved