Ride On

This song always makes me a little sad. Here you've got Bon Scott singing about being "another empty head" and drinking all the time and how one of these days he's going to change his evil ways. but he never gets the chance. He died in the back seat of a car on the ride home, quietly choking on his own vomit, and his friend driving never even noticed. He should have had his chance to change his evil ways and keep on rockin'.

My absolute favourite AC/DC song. This is them at their most bluesy. Its the now 25th anniverary of Bons death here in my hometown of Perth, Australia, where Bon was raised. Theres all sorts of tributes going on and a lot of discussion about Bon. The prevailing attitude is that, as a songwriter, Bon was only interested in women, drugs and booze, and that he had no sensistive side. I would direct people who have that opinion to have a listen to this tune. For me, the lyrics are some of the finest ever written. They're about change, reflection...but not written in a poetic, sugar coated (dare I say it - Dylan like?) manner - just an honest, working class man's assessment of his life. Its like hes giving advice, but not giving advice - he's just talkng to you. He could be any bloke down at the pub. He is everyman's rock star, he is a blue collar hero to millions. He is Bon.

Actually, his friend left him passed out in the car overnight because he was too loaded to get up. He died at some point in the night.

Either way, sara blue shoes is right. It's a moving and emotion-filled song, particularly when considered in the context of Bon Scott's death.

One of the most poignant moments of the song for me comes at the very end, when Bon expresses conflict between the reckless lifestyle he's embodying and his need to "change his evil ways". We hear him exclaim "Gonna have myself a good time!" and then, as if knowing that he can't sustain his way of living forever, the song ends with the pensive words "One of these days....one of these days...." which Bon delivers in an almost anguished tone. He realizes he has to change to save himself, but he can't bring himself to do so. In the end, he died before he could ever reverse his path. "Got myself a one-way ticket, going the wrong way". Powerful stuff. A true one-of-a-kind song from an amazing band with a legendary frontman.

I agree with Keith Angus Page, but it also gets me to thinking that the inertia of Bons life at the time, i.e. touring, etc, being on the road, was kinda making it hard for him to settle in a normal life. i.e. playing in the band, had + points in his life, but it could also be a silent nightmare, the things the fans never see, rock & roll excess, drink, women etc, was his way of putting a front on his loneliness as a person, he was longing for a time when he had more money, and less touring to do, so he could find a true love in his life (woman) and settle down with someone who would love him for who he was & not just coz he was Bon Scott the frontman of the hard rock band AC/DC, & get rid of his bad habits of drinking to excess, & breaking girls hearts coz his life on the road prevented his promises staying true, even though he may have wanted them to be. It is a sad song, because we all know that unfortunately he never reached that peak until after he died, & so his dreams never were fulfilled. If there is an after-life then Im quite sure Bon would have thought of this song, and be remorseful that he had to leave this world, without fulfilling these wishes, which many of us easily take for granted in our lives.

I don't know the right way i could explain this song. But everytime i hear it, its powerful tension makes me think of what an asshole i sometimes can be and makes me think about my bad habits and to finally break them. I usually hear it when i'm all alone and it just reflects loneliness and my inner emptiness when i'm not sure of what to do next , that day, that week, month, year, that life....

How this song just makes you think. Such a simple song, really. But so deep. By far my favorite AC/DC song. Ironic, because it amazes most people who don't like AC/DC. They can't even believe that they had such a profound song.

i agree with willia05... i love the blues tone of this song and i love to listen to it alone... it isnt a rock out song but clearly one of the more meaningfull AC/DC songs. A true work of Bon Genius

i agree with everything everyone has sed. when bon first states that 'One of these daaaays I'mm gonna, Change my evil ways', he gives a sort of guffaw of sorts, as if hes saying, as a kind of aside, that he knows it'll be almost impossible to do so, but as he gets towards the end of the song he becomes more desperate as he reflects on everything he's done: 'got a one-way ticket, goin the wrong way'. and then his calling of 'one of these days.....one of these days....' as keith angus page sed, in an almost anguished tone. it really shows that life on the road isn't all its cracked up to be.

this song is so sad and has a deep meaning. i can feel bon's pain in the way he sings this song. he was an awesome rock n' roller. uggh, i don't know what to say really cuz i'm not good at expressing myself but i totally agree with willia05. willia05, you really should be a writer.

I almost fell off my chair when i first heard this song on the radio and finding out it was by AC/DC... and i never really understood the lyrics that much, or never really listened....Thanks for the knowledge. I can appreciate it more now.