"Riding With Private Malone"
David Ball Lyrics
I was just out of the service thumbing through the classifieds
When an ad that said, "old Chevy" somehow caught my eye.
The lady didn't know the year or even if it ran
But I had that thousand dollars in my hand
It was way back in the corner of this old ramshackle barn,
With thirty years of dust and dirt on that green Army tarp,
And when I pulled the cover off, it took away my breath,
What she called a Chevy was a sixty-six Corvette.
I felt a little guilty as I counted out the bills
What a thrill I got when I sat behind the wheel
I opened up the glove box and that's when I found the note, the date was nineteen sixty-six and this is what he wrote,
He said, "My name is Private Andrew Malone
And if you're reading this, then I didn't make it home, but for every dream that's shattered, another one comes true. This car was once a dream of mine, now it belongs to you, and though you may take her and make her your own.
You'll always be riding with Private Malone"
Well, it didn't take me long at all, I had her running good, I loved to hear those horses thunder underneath her hood, I had her shining like a diamond and I'd put the ragtop down, All the pretty girls would stop and stare as I drove her through town.
The buttons on the radio didn't seem to work quite right, But it picked up that oldie show, especially late at night I'd get the feeling sometimes, if I turned real quick I'd see
A soldier ridin' shotgun in the seat right next to me.
It was a young man named Private Andrew Malone, who fought for his country and never made it home.
But for every dream that's shattered, another one comes true, This car was once a dream of his, back when it was new. He told me to take her and make her my own
And I was proud to be riding with Private Malone
Well, one night it was raining hard, I took the curve too fast, I still don't remember much about that fiery crash.
Someone said they thought they saw a soldier pull me out, They didn't get his name, but I know without a doubt it was a young man named Private Andrew Malone, Who fought for his country and never made it home.
But for every dream that's shattered, another one comes true
This car was once a dream of his, back when it was new, And I know I wouldn't be here if he hadn't tagged along.
Yeah, that night, I was riding with Private Malone, Oh, thank God, I was riding with Private Malone.....
The easiest model I ever built, while the paint was still tacky, I cut a piece of ARMY tarp out of an old tee shirt, I placed the tarp on it and pressed it down.
I used a lighter to make the red line front tire flat. Than a light coat of flat Grey simulating barn dust, with just the front fender and rear end showing.