For My Sunday Song #257, we are going to discuss the single “Nobody Rides For Free” off the Soundtrack to the movie ‘Point Break’ from 1991. The song was never on a studio album of Ratt, but has been on their Greatest Hits compilations. The song was played during the end credits of the movie and was sadly, the first single the band recorded without founding member Robbin Crosby who had been left the band due to drug problems.
The song was written by songwriter, Steven Carlton who was in the band Climate of Crisis. The band had performed the song many times so I guess that makes it a cover song which I didn’t know. The song was presented to the band for use in the movie, so Stephen Pearcy, Warren DeMartini and Juan Croucier took the song and tweaked it fit the band. Mostly they played with the lyrics but there were some musical tweaks as well.
The song seems to be about how people hang on to the star as the star is trying to reach for his success. These people cling on and are only there because the person is famous. The singer is fed up with it and is telling people to get put up or shut up and get out of my life if you are going to get in my way. Nobody rides for free on his coattails so either help him achieve his goal or get the F#&@ out of his way.
The song sounds like classic Ratt with Stephen’s gravely vocals that are heavily blues influenced. Bobby Blotzer’s drums drive the song forward along with Juan Croucier’s thumping bass. But the star of the song next to Stephen is Warren DeMartini and that blazing guitar. He has a great simple riff, but that solo he lays down is the money shot of the song. It would’ve been nice to have him playing off Robbin, but Warren is talented enough to handle it on his own. The song rocks out in all the right places.
Check out the song and let me know what you think. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do, but if not, oh well. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you all have a wonderful and Happy Sunday!!
“Nobody Rides For Free”
In my dreams see I’m on tv
Get back exactly who I wanna be
If she could really see herself in my eyes
This wouldn’t be such a big surprise
I’m sick and tired of it getting in my way
I’m sick and tired of everything I seem I know
Nobody rides for free
Nobody rides for free
Don’t stop to think cause I know where I stand
I’m on my way no your not gonna change my plan
If you can break away and see what I say
You’ll understand what I’m trying to be
I’m sick and tired of talking to my little dates
I’m sick and tired of everyone in my way
Nobody rides for free
Nobody rides for free
Nobody rides
Noooobooody…nobody rides for free
Noooobooody…nobody rides for free
Noooobooody…nobody rides for free
Noooobooody
You’ve gotta pay to play
So don’t you stand in my way
Cause nobody, nobody rides for free
Now the worlds at stake
The card was drawn
You thought he could swim but I guess you were wrong
You sink to the depths of your misery
Baby the past will set you free
Nobody rides for free
Nobody rides for free
Nobody rides
Noooobooody…nobody rides for free
Noooobooody…nobody rides for free
Noooobooody…nobody rides for free
Noooobooody
You’ve gotta pay to play
So don’t you stand in my way
Cause nobody, nobody rides for free
Nobody rides for free
Nobody rides for free…
Written by Steven Carlton, Stephen Pearcy, Warren DeMartini and Juan Croucier
2 Loud 2 Old Music 
This is a great RATT track. That chorus is killer. Great back story on RATT adding there 2 cents in the writing of it. Had no idea it was not there track originally!
Great stuff Snowman!
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Thanks. I didn’t realize it either.
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One of my favorite Ratt tracks even though the majority of it is as written by someone else.
And I’ll always remember the end of Point Break when this started. I never sit through the end credits but I did this time around
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Yeah, this would make you sit through the credits!!
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My favourite Ratt song. There should have been a future after this.
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Yes, there should’ve been.
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I just read some brutal reviews for current Ratt shows. Ouch! More reason why we needed them to continue in 1991.
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Yeah, the public has not been kind to them. I don’t know if I would spend money on them any more for at least live anyway…Same with Motley Crue with Vince.
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If I went to those shows, it would be to see what happens. Nothing more. A bunch of pyro and effects isn’t good enough for me.
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Yeah, if you want a train wreck, then go see them.
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I’ll give some of these guys some slack, they might be rusty currently…but that means they should be pretty great in a couple months. We’ll see. Vince is playing solo gigs.
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My hopes aren’t too high that it will get better.
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ROLLINS has a hilarious talking gig story about going down to a Ratt show, one time. Probably on YT somewhere.
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I’ll have to find that. His speaking stuff is usually really great.
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I agree with this statement, it’s all fun!
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I would trust anything Rollins says about Ratt a lot more than I would trust anything Ratt say.
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Well, the story wasn’t real flattering of their gig but it was certainly descriptive!
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Ha! The stories around their current shows aren’t flattering either.
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Just type Henry Rollins I Smell A Ratt into Youtube. It’s in three parts.
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Flattering perhaps now…accurate, I’ll bet it was.
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It’s called I Smell A Ratt, on YT. It’s in three parts.
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Oh man that’s brilliant, sounds like awesome evening viewing.
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It is fun. Sadly, I just listened through it and it cuts off on each one and it’s not even complete at the end. But you’ll get the idea.
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I remember this song, though I wouldn’t have been able to tell you one from another it was this particular track. But man I love Point Break, even if it’s a little dated now and the remake sucked. It has RHCP in it too! Also, I think you meant “nobody rides for free on my coattails,” not curtails. Heads up, grammar police lol. That guitar solo here, though. Perfect!
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Thanks for that. I went and fixed it. I can never proof my own work.
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Oh no worries. I usually let spelling and stuff go, but for clarity I sometimes mention words. I’m my own worst editor, it’s a wonder I post anything lol
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