Well, I met him in Minnesota,
He was dark and overcast.
With long, grey hair and eyes that stared
Through me like I was glass.
I asked "Where are you going to?"
He said, "I'm the wind I'm just blowing through."
He lit up a cigarette and began to talk.
Said:
"The doctors told me that my body won't hold me,
My lungs are turning black.
Been a lucky strike's fool since I was at school and there ain't no turning back.
They can't tell me how long I've got,
Maybe months but maybe not,
So I'm taking this bike and riding to New York.
'Cause I wanna see my grand-daughter one last time,
Wanna hold her close and feel her tiny heartbeat next to mine.
Wanna see my son and the man he's become,
Tell him I'm sorry for the things I've done,
And I'd do it if I had to walk.
Oh, I'm taking this bike and riding to New York
Through the forests of Wisconsin that I knew as a boy,
Past the sky line of Chicago,
Round the lakes of Illinois.
I lay my head in a motel bed where my back is sore and my eyes turn red,
Listen to the trucks roll past my door.
Through the fields of Ohio as the sunshine paints them gold.
I run just like a river runs, rapid, quick and cold.
And fly through Pennsylvania and the Jersey turnpike tolls.
And I won't stop 'till I get to New York.
'Cause I wanna see my grand-son one last time.
Wanna see his eyes sparkling and stare back into mine.
Now my time is shorter,
I wanna see my daughter,
Tell her all the things that I should have taught her
And I'd do it if I had to walk.
Oh, I'm taking this bike and riding to New York.
And I'd go up to the churchyard one last time,
Lay flowers down for the woman who gave me the best years of my life,
And I'd do it if I had to walk.
Yeah, I'd do it if I had to walk.
I'm taking this bike and riding to New York."