Karaoké Riding with Private Malone David Ball

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

And I felt a little guilty as I counted out the bills

But 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

And 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

Private Malone