The Naked Ride Home

Album: The Naked Ride Home (2002)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • According to Jackson Browne, a woman he knew very well (he won't say who) would sometimes take her clothes off and ride home naked, giving him the idea for the title "The Naked Ride Home." He came up with the title first and built the song from there.
  • The song sounds like it takes place at a bar, with a guy trying to pick up a girl by daring her to take off her clothes and let him take her home. She agrees to do it and he gets what we'll call a joyride, but there a tinge of trouble. At the end of the song, we find out that his wasn't a random pickup but a married couple struggling to stay together.

    "The song actually signals the end of a relationship," Browne told Rolling Stone. "You don't find out untl the last verse that this is a couple, people who are driving home to their house. He's trying to rekindle something, and it's not working out."
  • "The Naked Ride Home" is the title track and leadoff song from Jackson Browne's 12th album. He recalled to Uncut magazine in an interview with their August 2010 issue: "How records get made is the most fascinating thing to me. I love 'The Naked Ride Home' as a recording. [band guitarist] Mark Goldenberg was playing structurally on the original session, and I was going to overdub him doing lead on top, but I wound up adding this great guitarist Val McCallum to the Band just to play that part."

Comments: 1

  • Jeff from Tuscaloosa, AlLike almost every Jackson Browne song, there is always so much below the surface. The guy is an American treasure.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Andrew Farriss of INXS

Andrew Farriss of INXSSongwriter Interviews

Andrew Farriss on writing with Michael Hutchence, the stories behind "Mystify" and other INXS hits, and his country-flavored debut solo album.

Jethro Tull

Jethro TullFact or Fiction

Stage urinals, flute devices, and the real Aqualung in this Fact or Fiction.

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino EditionMusic Quiz

Whether he's splitting ears or burning Nazis, Quentin Tarantino uses memorable music in his films. See if you can match the song to the scene.

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)Songwriter Interviews

Mike Rutherford talks about the "Silent Running" storyline and "Land Of Confusion" in the age of Trump.

Donald Fagen

Donald FagenSongwriter Interviews

Fagen talks about how the Steely Dan songwriting strategy has changed over the years, and explains why you don't hear many covers of their songs.

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillian

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillianSong Writing

A Soul Train dancer takes us through a day on the show, and explains what you had to do to get camera time.