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Words from the artist’s archive
FREE RIDE, FULL PRICE lyrics
Artist-supplied lyric sheet, matched by title. The sheet may differ from this released performance. Production notes and alternate promotional cuts are omitted.
Read the lyric sheet
Verse 1
At six the sign went up: NO FARE TODAY By six-oh-five the line bent half a mile away One seat held a lunch pail, three knees held the aisle The driver checked his mirror, then gave the roof a smile A briefcase met a stroller, a heel met someone's rice No hand went in a pocket That part worked out nice
Chorus
Free ride, full price No coins, no room Sign says, "Come aboard"; tires say, "Not this noon" Free ride, full price We saved two bucks at the door Then paid in time twice
Verse 2
The route map kept its straight face, neat red line on white The bus took forty minutes just to clear one traffic light The app said seats were open; the axle knew it lied A man got off two stops too late and called the walk a ride City Hall cut cake at ten and praised the empty till The bus stop bench at noon was packed past standing room The fare box had no hunger The clock ate all it could
Chorus
Free ride, full price How much? No room Sign says, "Come aboard"; tires say, "Not this noon" Free ride, full price We saved two bucks at the door Then spent an hour twice
Verse 3
We laughed at that packed bus from one lane to the right Then gas ran low on Friday; we joined the curb by night We called the roof too crowded, then fought to claim a stair Put one foot in the doorway and found free air was rare The plan was not a bad plan; the seats just missed the news One less fare can help a home One less bus can bruise The banner kept its promise The body read the fine print
Chorus
Free ride, full price No coins, no room Sign says, "Come aboard"; tires find their tune Free ride, full price We saved two bucks at the door Then paid the rest in time
Inside the recording
At six the sign went up: NO FARE TODAY By six-oh-five the line bent half a mile away
Free ride, full price No coins, no room
Free ride, full price No coins, no room
Excerpts from artist-supplied lyric files matched by title. Lyric sheets may differ from the released performance.