Uneasy Rider

The Charlie Daniels Band, Charlie Daniels

About Uneasy Rider

"Uneasy Rider" is a 1973 song written and performed by American singer and multi-instrumentalist Charlie Daniels. It consists of a narrative spoken over a guitar melody, and is sometimes considered a novelty song. It was released as a single and appeared on Daniels' album Honey in the Rock which is also sometimes known as Uneasy Rider.


Year:
2012
5:19
308 
#3

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I was takin' a trip out to LA
Toolin' along in my Chevrolet
Tokin' on a number and diggin' on the radio

Jes' as I cross the Mississippi line
I heard that highway start to whine
And I knew that left rear tire was about to go

Well the spare was flat and I got uptight
'Cause there wasn't a fillin' station in sight
So I jes' limped down the shoulder on the rim

I went as far as I could and when I stopped the car
It was right in front of this little bar
A kind of a redneck lookin' joint called the Dew Drop Inn

Well I stuffed my hair up under my hat
And told the bartender that I had a flat
And would he be kind enough to give me change for a one

There was one thing I was sure proud to see
There wasn't a soul in the place 'cept for him an' me
And he just looked disgusted an' pointed toward the telephone

I called up the station down the road a ways
And he said he wasn't very busy t'day
And he could have somebody there in jest 'bout ten minutes or so

He said now you jes' stay right where yer at and I didn't bother
Tellin' the durn fool 
I sure as hell didn't have anyplace else to go

I just ordered up a beer and sat down at the bar
When some guy walked in an' said who owns this car
With the peace sign the mag wheels and four on the floor

Well he looked at me and I damn near died
And I decided that I'd jus wait outside
So I layed a dollar on the bar and headed for the door

Jes' when I thought I'd get outta there with my skin
These five big dude come strollin' in
With this one old drunk chick and some fella with green teeth

An' I was almost to the door when the biggest one
Said you tip your hat to this lady son
An' when I did all that hair fell out from underneath

Now the last thing I wanted was to get into a fight
In Jackson Mississippi on a Saturday night
'Specially when there was three of them and only one of me

Well they all started laughin' and I felt kinda sick
And I knew I'd better think of somethin' pretty quick
So I jes' reached out an' kicked ol' green-teeth right in the knee

He let out a yell that'd curl your hair
But before he could move I grabbed me a chair
And said watch him folks 'cause he's a thouroughly dangerous man

Well you may not know it but this man's a spy
He's an undercover agent for the FBI
And he's been sent down here to infiltrate the Ku Klux Klan

He was still bent over holdin' on to his knee
But everyone else was lookin' and listenin' to me
And I layed it on thicker and heavier as I went

I said would you beleive this man has gone as far
As tearin' Wallace stickers off the bumpers of cars
And he voted for George McGoveren for president

Well he's a friend of them long-haired hippie type pinko fags
I betcha he's even got a Commie flag
Tacked up on the wall inside of his garage

He's a snake in the grass I tell ya guys
He may look dumb but that's jus a disguise
He's a mastermind in the ways of espionage

They all started lookin' real suspicious at him
And he jumped up an' said jes' wait a minute Jim
You know he's lyin' I've been livin' here all of my life

I'm a faithfull follower of Brother John Burch
And I belong to the Antioch Baptist Church
And I ain't even got a garage you can call home and ask my wife

Then he started sayin' somethin' 'bout the way I was dressed
But I didn't wait around to hear the rest
I was too busy movin' and hopin' I didn't run outta luck

And when I hit the ground I was makin' tracks
And they were jes' takin' my car down off the jacks
So I threw the man a twenty an' jumped in an' fired that mother up

Mario Andretti woulda sure been proud
Of the way I was movin' when I passed that crowd
Comin' out the door and headin' toward me in a trot

An' I guess I shoulda gone ahead an' run
But somehow I couldn't resist the fun
Of chasin' them jes' once around the parkin' lot

Well they're headin' for their car but I hit the gas
And spun around and headed them off at the pass
Well I was slingin' gravel and puttin' a ton of dust in the air

Well I had them all out there steppin' an' a fetchin'
Like their heads were on fire and their asses was catchin'
But I figured I oughta go ahead an split before the cops got there

When I hit the road I was really wheelin'
Had gravel flyin' and rubber squeelin'
An' I didn't slow down 'til I was almost to Arkansas

I think I'm gonna re-route my trip
I wonder if anybody'd think I'd flipped
If I went to LA via Omaha!

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Charlie Daniels

Charles Edward "Charlie" Daniels (born on October 28, 1936) is an American musician known for his contributions to country and southern rock music. He is perhaps best known for his number one country hit "The Devil Went Down to Georgia", and multiple other songs he has written and performed. Daniels has been active as a singer since the early 1950s. He was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry on January 24, 2008. more »

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Written by: CHARLES EDWARD DANIELS

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


18 facts about this song

Release Information
"Uneasy Rider" is a song by American artist Charlie Daniels. Released on his fifth studio album "Honey in the Rock" in 1973, it was his first significant hit as a singer-songwriter.
Chart Performance
The song reached No.9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart making it Daniels' first top ten hit.
Genre Classification
Though Charlie Daniels is primarily recognized as a country and southern rock artist, "Uneasy Rider" falls more into the genre of talking blues, a form of folk music characterized by spoken or half-sung lyrics.
Song Theme
"Uneasy Rider" is told as a narrative and discusses themes of the counterculture era, framed through the perspective of a long-haired southern man having issues in a "redneck" town.
Racial Controversy
Some controversy surrounds the song due to the use of potentially derogatory language toward Native Americans and African Americans. However, many people see it as a reflection of the attitudes of the era rather than Daniels' personal views.
Youtube Views
On Youtube, the song has amassed over 3 million views, demonstrating its enduring popularity.
Sequel
There is actually a sequel to "Uneasy Rider" called "Uneasy Rider '88." Released in 1988, the sequel was met with considerably less commercial success.
Root in Reality
According to Charlie Daniels, the song is somewhat based on his experience with a bad trip to Los Angeles in the 1960s. However, most of the details in the song are highly embellished or fabricated for comedic effect.
Song Background
"Uneasy Rider" is one of the hallmark songs by Charlie Daniels, a renowned American singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist known for his contributions to country and southern rock music.
Release and Chart Success
It was released in the year 1973 as part of Daniels' album, "Honey in the Rock". - The song climbed to number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Song Style
"Uneasy Rider" is typically classified as a talking blues song, a type of music where the lyrics are spoken rather than sung. - The song has a narrative structure, telling a story throughout its length.
Song Lyrics
It tells a humorous story of a long-haired musician driving a car with a tire that is going flat. - The story takes a turn as he reaches the 'wrong kind of place', a redneck bar in Jackson, Mississippi, and has to use his wits to escape.
Public Response
"Uneasy Rider" is a beloved classic and favorite among Charlie Daniels' fans due to its humor and deep-southern locale.
Legacy
Because of its popularity, Daniels released another similar-titled song "Uneasy Rider '88" on his 1988 album "Homesick Heroes". However, the sequel is more politically charged and references many controversial figures of the time.
Trivia
The song is known for its liberal use of slang and Southern dialect, making it a unique piece in Charlie Daniels' music catalog.
Musical Composition
The song features an acoustic guitar which sets the rhythm, and a keyboard that pops in with short, staccato notes, adding to the song's unique composition.
Charlie Daniels Background
Charlie Daniels was a respected and loved musician who was recognized for his unique blend of country, rock, and blues. He passed away in 2020, but his music, including "Uneasy Rider", continues to influence and inspire.
Marketable Presence
"Uneasy Rider", aside from being a hit single, has been reissued in many Charlie Daniels' greatest hits compilations over the years, proving its lasting appeal.

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    Uneasy Rider

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1973

    Billboard #9


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