Riding With Private Malone

G
I was just out of the service thumbin' through the classifieds
        C
When an ad that said old Chevy somehow caught my eye
G
The Lady didn't know the year or even if it ran
      C                  D             G
but I had that thousand dollars in my hand.
G
It was way back in the corner of this old ramshackle barn
      C
With thirty years of dust and dirt on that green army tarp
    D                                C
and when I pulled the cover off, It took away my breath
                                D
what she called a Chevy was a '66 Corvette.
   C                         D
And I felt a little guilty as I counted out the bills
    G                           C               D
but what a thrill I got, when I sat behind the wheel.
G
I opened up the glove box and that’s when I found the note
     C             D               G
The date was 1966 this is what he wrote:

[Chorus]
            G       D       C      D
He said my name is Private Andrew Malone
        G             D           C             D
and if you’re reading this then I didn't make it home
         G                D          C                 D
But for every dream that’s shattered, another one comes true
      C                            D
this car was once a dream of mine, now it belongs to you
      G             D            C             D
and though you may take her and make her your own
G                D    C        D       G
You'll always be rid-ing with Private Malone.

[Verse 2]
G
Well it didn’t take me long, I had her running good
        C
I loved to hear those horses thunder underneath her hood.
G
I had her shining like a diamond and I’d put the ragtop down
      C                  D             G
All the pretty girls would stop and stare as I drove her through town
G
The buttons on the radio didn’t seem to work quite right,
  C
But it picked up that oldies show, especially late at night
 D                                C
Sometimes I thought that if I’d turn real quick I’d see,
                                D
A soldier riding shotgun, in the seat right next to me.

[Chorus]
            G       D       C      D
It was a young man named Private Andrew Malone
        G             D         C             D
Who fought for his country and never made it home
         G                D          C                 D
But for every dream that’s shattered, another one comes true
      C                            D
this car was once a dream of his, back when it was new
      G             D           C           D
and he told me to take her and make her my own
G                      D   C        D       G
And I was proud to be rid-ing with Private Malone

[Verse 3]
C                                   D
One night it was rainin' hard and I took the curve to fast
G                          C                 D
I still don’t remember much about that fiery crash
G
Someone said they thought they saw a soldier pull me out
       C                        D               G
they didn’t get his name, but I know without a doubt...

[Chorus]
            G       D       C      D
It was a young man named Private Andrew Malone
        G             D         C             D
Who fought for his country and never made it home
         G                D          C                 D
But for every dream that’s shattered, another one comes true
      C                            D
this car was once a dream of his, back when it was new
      G             D           C           D
And I know I wouldn’t be here if he hadn’t tagged along
G                   D    C         D      G
Oh, Thank-God I was rid-ing with Private Malone