I was just out of the service
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Thumbin' through the classifieds
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When an ad that said "Old Chevy"
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Somehow caught my eye
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The lady didn't know the year
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Or even if it ran
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But I had that thousand dollars in my hand
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It was way back in the corner of this old ramshackle barn
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With thirty years of dust and dirt on that green army tarp
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And when I pulled the cover off
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It took away my breath
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What she called a Chevy
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Was a sixty-six Corvette
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And I felt a little guilty as I counted out the bills
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But what a thrill I got
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When I sat behind the wheel
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I opened up the glovebox
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And that's when I found the note
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The date was 1966 and this is what he wrote
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He said my name is Private Andrew Malone
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And if your readin' this, then I didn't make it home
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But for every dream that shattered
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Another one comes true
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This car was once a dream of mine
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Now it belongs to you
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Though you may take her and make her your own
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You'll always be riding with Private Malone
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Well it didn't take me long at all
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I had her runnin' good
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I loved to hear those horses thunder underneath her hood
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I had her shinin' like a diamond and I put the rag top down
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All the pretty girls would stop and stare as I drove her through town
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The buttons on the radio didn't seem to work quite right
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But it picked up that Oldie's Show
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Especially late at night
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I get the feelin' sometimes If I turned real quick I'd see
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A soldier ridin' shotgun
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In the seat right next to me
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It was a young man named Private Andrew Malone
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Who fought for his country and never made it home
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But for every dream that's shattered
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There's another that comes true
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This car was once a dream of his back when it was new
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He told me to take her and make her my own
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And I was proud to be riding with Private Malone
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One night it was rainin' hard
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I took the curve too fast
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I still don't remember much about that firey crash
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But someone said they thought they saw a soldier pull me out
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They didn't get his name
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But I know without a doubt
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It was a young man named Private Andrew Malone
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Who fought for his country and never made it home
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But for every dream that shattered
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Another one comes true
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This car was once a dream of his back when it was new
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And I know I wouldn't be here if he hadn't tagged along
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Yeah that night I was riding with Private Malone
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Oh thank God I was riding with Private Malone
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Riding With Private Malone
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David Ball |