Written by It’s almost that time again. When I first moved to Ohio, I couldn’t imagine what it was like to “winter up” a motorbike. Growing up in SoCal, I never had to do such a think. Sadly, I have done it almost 20 times now. But! It’s almost time to get the bike out of the garage and put it on the road again! I can’t wait!
This got me to thinking. Pretty much everything in my life has a soundtrack associated. There is not much that goes on that I don’t associate songs with. Motorbikes are no exception. I have never been a huge fan of the normal motorbike songs, a la “Born to be Wild.” For me, riding on a motorbike is a much more full experience than portraying an image. It’s a bonding. A oneness with a machine.
It’s a relationship of trusting in a machine to take you 3,000 miles from home, get you back in one piece, and do this all while keeping your body completely outside. There’s something about that.
So, without further rambling, here are my to 3 motorcycle songs.
John Cougar – Thundering Hearts
Things have changed a lot since this song came out.
- I no longer ride a Harley Davidson – Yeah, I know. I have heard every possible crack about riding an off brand motorbike. I have never been a fan of rules, including exactly how I should go about living without them. I ride what I ride. When you have as many miles under your ass as I do, we’ll talk.
- John Cougar Changed his name – Yeah! He did. No big deal, but I still file his records under “Cougar” in my record collection. Some habits die hard, I suppose.
- Riding is more of a necessity than a passion now – When I was younger, I rode because I liked all the ideas about riding motorbikes. All the things it represented to me. Now, I ride because I have to. I need to clear my head, and there isn’t much else that does it for me. And there is no way in hell I am going to go see a shrink.
Billy Idol – Blue Highway
Yeah! Who doesn’t like Billy Idol? This has always been a favorite of mine. I have never wavered from it, and things haven’t changed much since I first fell for this song. I do remember I was out in the city the night that Billy stacked his motorbike. I heard the report on the radio. They gave a vague description of where it was. I heard the description, and realized I was only a few blocks away. Unfortunately, There is no way I can remember where it was now. Dam
When the Night Feels My Song – Bedouin Sounclash
The weird things is. When I was younger, I always lived in the moment of motorbike travel. I hated the idea of having to go home. To the same four walls and silly job that I had to hold, just to feed my motor addiction. Now that I am older, after a long trip, I find I like coming home. Where all my stuff is easily accessible. Where I know where everything is.
I like the idea of putting a head stirring with new ideas and possiblities down on my own pillow, in my own bed. Yeah, things have changed a little bit.
Let me know if I left your favorite song off the list.