I think it's significant that its about someone he cares about - and the girl he loved was called Sophia "Ryde."
Now, she was basically the love of his life, but they never had sex, remaining basically, as she would later call it, "best friends". Since Nick Drake wrote songs based on personal experiences, I think it's not too much of a leap to go from 'Ryde' to ride, based on their emotional history yet lack of 'consummation'.
Also, he used to take his parent's car and drive around for hours until he ran out of petrol. There may be a metaphor in that 'free ride' could also symbolise the lack of direction to their relationship, much like his midnight drives.
@ Psylogon: would people PLEASE stop interpreting songs based on their 'personal experiences'. The next time I read somebody saying a Beatles song could be about being dumped in chemistry class I'm going to scream.
I think it's significant that its about someone he cares about - and the girl he loved was called Sophia "Ryde."
Now, she was basically the love of his life, but they never had sex, remaining basically, as she would later call it, "best friends". Since Nick Drake wrote songs based on personal experiences, I think it's not too much of a leap to go from 'Ryde' to ride, based on their emotional history yet lack of 'consummation'.
Also, he used to take his parent's car and drive around for hours until he ran out of petrol. There may be a metaphor in that 'free ride' could also symbolise the lack of direction to their relationship, much like his midnight drives.
@ Psylogon: would people PLEASE stop interpreting songs based on their 'personal experiences'. The next time I read somebody saying a Beatles song could be about being dumped in chemistry class I'm going to scream.
Songs are meant to be interpreted based on personal experience and there isn't "one" meaning to a song you fucking moron.
Songs are meant to be interpreted based on personal experience and there isn't "one" meaning to a song you fucking moron.