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 blowin' through".
"See the doctors told me that my body won't hold me,
my lungs are turning black.
Been Lucky Strike's fool since I was at school,
now 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
Want to 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 skyline of Chicago, 'round the lakes of Illinois
I lay my head in a motel bed
When my back get sore and my eyes turn red
And listen to the trucks roll past my door
Through the fields of Ohio as the sunshine paints them gold
I'll run just like a river runs, rapid, quick and cold
Fly through Pennsylvania and the Jersey turn-pike tolls
I won't stop 'til 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 short, I wanna see my daughter
Tell her I'm sorry for the things I taught her
And I'd do it if I had to walk
Oh, I'm taking this bike and I'm 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
most of the credit to gifted Gschibby