David Ball – Riding With Private Malone

“Riding with Private Malone” is a song written by Wood Newton and Thom Shepherd, and recorded by American country music artist David Ball. It was released in August 2001 as the first single from his album Amigo. The song reached a peak of #2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts (now Hot Country Songs) chart, and #36 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was Ball’s first Top 40 country hit since “Look What Followed Me Home” in 1995. USA Today referred to it as “the country song that tapped most subtly and profoundly into the emotions of its audience” after the September 11 attacks, even though it was released to radio a few weeks before the attacks.

Debuted at number 55 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of September 8, 2001. Having reached the top 10 by year’s end, it was the second independently distributed single to make the country top 10 that year (the first being Mark McGuinn’s “Mrs. Steven Rudy”), making 2001 the first year since 1983 to produce two independently distributed top 10 hits.

From the album Amigo
B-side “Missing Her Blues”
Released August 13, 2001
Recorded May 9, 2001
Genre Country
Label Dualtone
Songwriter(s) Wood Newton. Thom Shepherd
Producer(s) Wood Newton

David Ball – Riding With Private Malone 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
Private Malone…