Riding to New York lyrics

Well, I met him in Minnesota,

He was dark and overcast,

With long grey hair and eyes that stared

through me like I was glass.

I asked, "Where are you going to?"

He said, "I’m the wind, I’m just blowing through."

He lit up a cigarette and began to talk.

"See, the doctors told me

My body won’t hold me,

My lungs are turning black.

Been Lucky Strike’s fool since I was at school N

Now there ain’t no turning back,

They can’t tell me how long i’ve got,

Maybe months but maybe not.

So I’m taking this bike and riding to New York.

'cos I wanna see my grand-daughter one last time.

Wanna hold her close and feel her tiny heart beat next to mine.

Wanna see my son and the man he’s become.

Tell him I’m sorry for the things I’ve done

And I’d do it if I had to walk.

Oh, I’m taking this bike and riding to New York

Through the forests of Wisconsin

That I knew as a boy,

Past the skyline of Chicago,

Round the lakes of Illinois.

I'll lay my head in a motel bed

when my back is sore and my eyes turn red

and listen to the trucks roll past my door

Through the fields of Ohio

as the sunshine paints them gold

I'll run just like a river runs

rapid, quick and cold

and fly through Pennsylvania

and the Jersey turnpike tolls

and I won’t stop ’til I get to New York

'cos I wanna see my grandson one last time

wanna see his eyes sparkling and stare back into mine

now my time is short I wanna see my daughter

tell her I’m sorry for the things I taught her

and I’d do it if I had to walk

oh, I’m taking this bike, I'm riding to New York

And I’d go up to the churchyard one last time,

Lay flowers down for the woman who gave me

the best years of my life

and I’d do it if I had to walk

yeah, I’d do it if I had to walk

I’m taking this bike and riding to New York."

• Artist:Passenger (UK)
• Album:Whispers (2014)