Wheels of Thunder

 

Written by John Stewart

 

‘Wheels of Thunder’ is on “Dream Babies Go Hollywood”, RSO, 1980, and on “John Stewart: Best Of.....Turning Music Into Gold”, Polydor; 1995, CD-reissue of the albums “Bombs Away Dream Babies” and “Dream Babies Go Hollywood”, plus two previously unreleased versions of ‘Hard Time Town’ and ‘Children of The Morning’.  I see that the CD is out of print as I write and goes for 200 dollars, used. Time for a re-issue. 

What I like best about this song is the insisting drive of the track – such fun to just strum along.  I´m on the Warren Zevon message board, we´ve been discussing great guitar players recently.  Volkmar, a classical guitar player, recording artist with the Corona Guitar Quartet, said about one player, ‘Yeah, he´s good, technically perfect.  But his playing is not insisting enough.’  Very good point, I thought.  Plenty of insisting playing by John on the two “Dream Babies” albums.  I politely insist that you play along the CD and check whether you can agree. 

Oh, and Charlie is on a roll – he´s been starting the last songs, all from this album, for us – nary an oversight. He could have done the last three without us.  (Almost, Charlie – the spacing of chords needed a little changing).

 

 

C6

E-------------

B--1---------

G----2-------

D----2-------

A------3-----

E-------------

 

 

Capo 2nd fret

 

(G) (C6) (G)   (G) (C6) (C6) (G)

 

I heard the highway (C6)whine when (G)I was a (D)kid,

(D4)(D)(D2)(D)

(G)Dreaming of the long white (C)line was (G)all that I (D)did.

(D4)(D)(D2)(D)

Oh, a (Bm)man behind the wheel ain't a man on the (F#m)skids,

(C) I heard the highway (D)whine when I was a (Em)kid.

 

(G) A little taste of (C6)freedom and (G)I was (D)gone,

(D4)(D)(D2)(D)

A (G)highway rider, (C6)I could (G)not go (D)wrong.

(D4)(D)(D2)(D)

Oh, those (Bm)backseat nights when Sally was a(F#m)long,

(C) A little taste of (D)freedom all night (Em)long. (hold)

 

Yeah, to (G)ride on the (C)wheels of (D)thunder,

Taking (G)over, now (C)going (D)under,

Yeah, to (Bm)ride on the wheels of (C)thunder, (D)

Watch 'em (Em)roll.

Yeah, to (G)ride on the (C)wheels of (D)thunder,

Taking (G)over, now (C)going (D)under,

Yeah, to (Bm)ride on the wheels of (C)thunder, (D)

Watch 'em (Em)roll.

(G)  (C)  (G)  (D)  (D4)(D)(D2)(D)

(G)  (C)  (G)  (D)  (D4)(D)(D2)(D)

(Bm)  (F#m)  (C)  (D)  (Em)

 

(G) That old Chevy was (C6)all that I'd (G)ever (D)need,

(D4)(D)(D2)(D)

(G)I had the moves and I (C6)knew that she (G)had the (D)speed.

(D4)(D)(D2)(D)

On those (Bm)backseat nights when I was in by (F#m)three,

(C) That old Chevy was (D)all that I'd ever (Em)need. (hold)

 

Ah, to (G)ride on the (C)wheels of (D)thunder,

Taking (G)over, now (C)going (D)under,

Yeah, to (Bm)ride on the wheels of (C)thunder, (D)

Watch 'em (Em)roll.

 

Yeah, to (G)ride on the (C)wheels of (D)thunder,

Taking (G)over, now (C)going (D)under,

Yeah, to (Bm)ride on the wheels of (C)thunder, (D)

Watch 'em (Em)roll.

(G)  (C)  (D)  (G)  (C)  (D)

(Bm)  (C)  (D)  (Em)

 

Yeah, to (G)ride on the (C)wheels of (D)thunder,

Taking (G)over, now (C)going (D)under,

Yeah, to (Bm)ride on the wheels of (C)thunder, (D)

Watch 'em (Em)roll... (fading out)

 

© John Stewart, All Rights Reserved

 

Charlie Woodward, Art Faller & janhauenstein@gmx.de

 

April 2005