Ride the Wave

Ride the Wave
Debuted 04.17.04
Last time performed 09.14.00

"Ride the Wave" was the first song that I wrote music and words to, and it revolves around choosing to devote my life to music. I remember very clearly sitting on my couch in Champaign on a Wednesday in November '98. And after a rather healthy portion of alcohol (Sam Adams and cheap gin), I had several hours of reflection about where I was, who I was, who I wanted to be, etc. It was on this morning around 4 a.m. that I realized that my life would revolve around music.
"Ride the Wave" begins with a description of an old man who never took risks, was never pro-active about his life. And he has grown into an introverted man torn to pieces by his own regrets. He lives in his past, yearning to do it all over again, get another chance at Life.
At the time it was written, I was in college and really searching for myself (cheesy as it may sound) and decided not to pursue law school, which was what I had slated for my after-college years. The name "Ride the Wave" refers to a metaphor put forth to me by a close friend: Aaron Leslie, who also wrote the lyrics to "Safe and Warm." Our discussion involved a wave representing each person's "thang", their passion, dreams, whatever. Whatever you choose to be your thang, you have to go all out, and ride the wave as long as possible, and as far as it can take you.
~ Dave Littrell

Sweaty tooth dripping animal,

Yearning for the past

Still can't reach the shelf of foregiveness.

Run, run, run while you still can.

You might even get away of you (can) get 'em fooled.

How will you live?

How can you live,

if you've already died inside?

How can you really live?

Running from your past, and searching for your soul.

She toasted a glass and then she said:

Rest easy now my friend.

This wild ride is finally coming to an end.

Mistakes that you may have made, put 'em far behind.

Cause there's too much treasure in this world just yet to find.

So find your own wave, steal away from pain.

Grab on tight now, hold on for one more day.

The gift of forgiveness, it just might be on it's way.

So what would ya wanna say now,

COME ON AND RIDE THE WAVE

As I try to sift through these tainted leaves of my past.

That poor and helpless minds back and forth.

And that stomach groans filling up my chest.

Oh God please, please God make it stop.

These piercing crowded eyes can only point and stare.

While I breath that sullen air.

Can't find my way out of this ring of fire.

Tormenting sprirals in my head.