A friend was living a pretty intense life. This was for him. (Lyrics below the video.)
BILLY (HE’S RED-LINING)
Burning down the highway on a good-looking Harley
Running from a lover’s goodbye
Leaning on the corners like he leaned on his lady
Leaning ‘til the sparks are flying
Tattoo on his arm is of the Reaper waiting
Waiting for somebody to cry
Oh no, Billy don’t care if he dies
He’s red-lining (Oh yeah, but he’s running free)
Red-lining (Never be what you want him to be)
He’s red-lining (Right out of control)
Pulling on the throttle ‘til he can’t hear the voices
Screaming at him, burning inside
Everybody wondering what happened to Billy
He used to be his Momma’s pride
But all he got at school was a major in dealing
Good lays and a kilo of lies
Oh yeah, Billy’s a king of disguise
He’s red-lining (Oh yeah, but he’s running free)
Red-lining (Never be what you want him to be)
He’s red-lining (Right out of control)
Billy hit the corner with the wind in his helmet
Screaming out a final farewell
Demon underneath him at a hundred and twenty
Carried Billy right into hell
Nobody’d believed he’d ever make it to thirty
Many thought he’d die any day
And oh yeah, Billy he’d liked it that way
He’s red-lining (Oh yeah, but he’s running free)
Red-lining (Never be what you want him to be)
He’s red-lining (Right out of control)
© Van Clayton Powel
