Songs That Mention Harleys

Subject: Songs That Mention Harleys
From: oldhippie
Date: 11 Sep 07 - 07:32 PM

I've looked at previous threads about motorcycle songs, but am wondering if anyone has a list of songs that specifically mention Harleys. I know of the following. Does anyone know others?

I Want To Hop On Your Harley - Ann Rabson
Harley Davidson Blues - Canned Heat
A Harley Someday - David Allan Coe
Harley Davidson - Eddie Meduza
Harley Davidson Polka - Happy Schnapps Combo
Harley Davidson Blues - Hot Tuna
Harley - Marshall Tucker Band
Ladies Love Outlaws - "Gypsy" Bob Copp
Highway Gypsy - "Gypsy" Bob Copp
She Rides A Harley Davidson - Neil Young
Ride - Shelly Fairchild
Harleys and Horses - Zona Jones
Harley Woman - Dan Chapman
Old Hippie Class Reunion - Ray Stevens
Thanks For the Ride - Johnny Hubbs
Brand New Harley - Peter Mayer

Subject: RE: Songs That Mention Harleys
From: Leadfingers
Date: 11 Sep 07 - 08:06 PM

What's the difference between a Harley and a banjo ?


























You can tune a Harley       -       Nearly !

Subject: RE: Songs That Mention Harleys
From: van lingle
Date: 11 Sep 07 - 08:29 PM

Bwana Dik by Frank Zappa- "My dick is a Harley,
                           Ya kick it to start."

What's the difference between a Hoover and a Harley?

The position of the dirt bag.

Subject: RE: Songs That Mention Harleys
From: catspaw49
Date: 11 Sep 07 - 08:43 PM

"Harley Is A Piece Of Crap"
(sung to the tune of Neil Young's "Piece of Crap")
Words by "Black Echo"

Born to ride free
Bought a used Harley
It wouldn't even start
It was a piece of crap

Wanted a Harley
Thought it was for me
But in reality
It's just a big piece of crap

I tried to start it up
I tried to ride it home
I had to have it towed
It was a piece of crap

Got it from a friend
On him you can depend
I found out in the end
It was a piece of crap

I tried to ride free
Believed in Milwaukee
but they depended on me
To buy their piece of crap

Took it to the dealer
He gave me a loaner
The guy told me at the door
It's a piece of crap too!

Subject: RE: Songs That Mention Harleys
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 11 Sep 07 - 09:16 PM

John Warner has a song called Harley Dinosaur.

Subject: RE: Songs That Mention Harleys
From: Joybell
Date: 11 Sep 07 - 09:21 PM

True-Love wrote one with the line:

...This town will know what it's all about
When next I take my Harley out...

It's obsure except in a small circle of friends. The song is one of two which he calls his "Midwestern Trilogy". And yes -- he knows what a trilogy is.

Cheers, Joy

Subject: RE: Songs That Mention Harleys
From: Metchosin
Date: 11 Sep 07 - 10:32 PM

LOL Love it Spaw, too true.

Subject: RE: Songs That Mention Harleys
From: pdq
Date: 11 Sep 07 - 11:02 PM

"Ladies Love Outlaws" was written by Lee Clayton with definitive versions by the Everley Brothers or Waylon Jennings, depending on your affinity to Country or Rock 'n' Roll.

Cathy Matea did a song called "Harley", and Steve Goodman's "Queen Of The Road" mentions a 'knuckle-head Harley".

Subject: RE: Songs That Mention Harleys
From: Darowyn
Date: 12 Sep 07 - 02:45 AM

I always thought that the song
"What made Milwaukee famous has made a loser out of me"
was the lament of an unfortunate bike racer who has realised that he or she should have bought a Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki or Kawasaki- or anything which is an actual motorbike as opposed to a dumb lump of metal disguised as a lifestyle statement of conspicuous consumption.
It's only later I realised that they made beer in Milwaukee too.
I don't like that either.
Cheers
Dave

Subject: RE: Songs That Mention Harleys
From: GUEST,Black Hawk on works PC
Date: 12 Sep 07 - 03:34 AM

'The Jogger' recorded by Bobby Bare (written I believe by Shel Silverstein)

'.....hells angels on Harley bikes.......'
'.....race car nuts and Harley hoggers.....'

Subject: RE: Songs That Mention Harleys
From: GUEST,Elfcall
Date: 12 Sep 07 - 03:46 AM

Jethro Tull's - 'Too Old to Rock 'n' Roll Too YOung to Die'

" He wanted a Harley Davidson or a Triumph Bonneville"

Elfcall

Subject: RE: Songs That Mention Harleys
From: David C. Carter
Date: 12 Sep 07 - 03:49 AM

'Harley David Son of a Bitch.'
Serge Gainsourg


David

Subject: RE: Songs That Mention Harleys
From: GUEST,MC Fat
Date: 12 Sep 07 - 03:54 AM

A mention in Richard Thompson's Vincent Black Lightning 'Now Nortons and Indians and Harleys they won't do'

Subject: RE: Songs That Mention Harleys
From: David C. Carter
Date: 12 Sep 07 - 04:01 AM

Sorry.That should have read:Serge Gainsbourg.


David

Subject: RE: Songs That Mention Harleys
From: Long Firm Freddie
Date: 12 Sep 07 - 04:02 AM

There's a brief mention in Jethro Tull's "Too Old to Rock 'n Roll, Too Young to Die". The song also mentions the Triumph Bonneville:

"He once owned a Harley Davidson and a Triumph Bonneville."

Maddy Prior sings backing vocals in this cheery tale of mid-life angst and suicide.

LFF

Subject: RE: Songs That Mention Harleys
From: oldhippie
Date: 12 Sep 07 - 07:02 AM

Thanks for the responses so far. pdq - The "Ladies Love Outlaws" song is not the Lee Clayton one, its a totally different one.

Subject: RE: Songs That Mention Harleys
From: GUEST,Darowyn
Date: 12 Sep 07 - 07:44 AM

The character in "Too Old To Rock and Roll" does not commit suicide.
The reprise on the album version starts,
"Well if you think Ray blew it,
There was nothing to it.
They patched him up as good as new.
You can see him every day, on the Queen's highway,
Handing out his small cigars to the kids from school"
Cheers
Dave

Subject: RE: Songs That Mention Harleys
From: PMB
Date: 12 Sep 07 - 07:47 AM

Has anyone mentioned The Harley and the Ivy? Harley way Joe? Johnny I Harley Knew Ye? Summer Harley Day?

Subject: RE: Songs That Mention Harleys
From: Long Firm Freddie
Date: 12 Sep 07 - 08:53 AM

Cheers Dave (Guest Darowyn) - I only ever had that track on the "Best Of" album, which didn't include the reprise. Nice to know there was a happy ending after all!

LFF

Subject: RE: Songs That Mention Harleys
From: beardedbruce
Date: 12 Sep 07 - 09:16 AM

"Motorcycle Mama" By Sailcat


Well, the song does MENTION it...


Tell your Daddy and your Mama too.
You got something better to do
Than stick around the house the rest of your life.
You're eighteen you can do what you like.
You'll be the queen of my highway, my motorcycle mama.
We'll see the world through my Harley.

We'll get matching jackets and helmets too.
We'll get respect from the towns we ride through.
We'll sleep at the roadside in the soft green grass
and if the squares walk by we'll let them pass.
You'll be the queen of my highway, my motorcycle mama.
We'll see the world from my Harley.

And maybe in a year or two,
we'll have a little one,
she'll look just like you.
We'll add on a sidecar, electric guitar.
We'll be a trio,
the baby makes three, oh.

Tell your Daddy and your Mama too.
You got something better to do.
Than stick around the house the rest of your life.
You're eighteen you can be my wife.
You'll be the queen of my highway, my motorcycle mama.
We'll see the world from my Harley.
We'll see the world from my Harley.
We'll see the world from my Harley

if the chain don't break!

Subject: RE: Songs That Mention Harleys
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 12 Sep 07 - 09:46 AM

The Kipper family wrote a parody of 'Biker Hill' which mentions Harleys and is funny to boot although it probably won't be if a) you don't know the original and b) don't get the very British references.


When I've had enough of Penny
I would call on Gillian
I would take her for a ride
The bonny lass all on my pillion

Chorus:
Biker Bill and Walter Shaw
Jollier lads you never saw
Biker Bill and Walter Shaw
Jollier lads you never saw

When I first came to the pits
I found me bike was all in bits
Then along come Walter Shaw
He's the man who tunes me Harley

Walter's worth his weight in gold
That's more than two hundred pounds
He did a skid without his lid
And now he's only half a crown

If I had another gill
Then Penny wouldn't ride along with me
She hates it when I drink and drive
She loves a man who is T.T.

Walter Shaw he had a pig
He hit it with a shovel and it danced a jig
now he has been took away
by a man from the RSPCA


LTS

Subject: RE: Songs That Mention Harleys
From: Mr Happy
Date: 12 Sep 07 - 09:48 AM

Biker Bill and Walter Shaw
[The Kipper Family]

When I've had enough of Penny
I would call on Gillian
I would take her for a ride
The bonny lass all on my pillion

Biker Bill and Walter Shaw
Jollier lads you never saw
Biker Bill and Walter Shaw
Jollier lads you never saw

When I first came to the pits
I found me bike was all in bits
Then along come Walter Shaw
He's the man who tunes me Harley

Walter's worth his weight in gold
That's more than two hundred pounds
He did a skid without his lid
And now he's only half a crown

If I had another gill
Then Penny wouldn't ride along with me
She hates it when I drink and drive
She loves a man who is T.T.

Walter Shaw he had a pig
He hit it with a shovel and it danced a jig
Now he has been took away
By a man from the RSPCA

Subject: RE: Songs That Mention Harleys
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 12 Sep 07 - 12:11 PM

Beat ya by 2 minutes Mr Happy!! Great Minds think alike.

LTS

Subject: RE: Songs That Mention Harleys
From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego
Date: 12 Sep 07 - 12:16 PM

Just to be fair, I'd be curious to know if our British friends have produced any songs mentioning Norton, Triumph, Matchless or other famous machines of your manufacture; i.e., racing related songs, etc.
Of course, we could leap some water for others; Husqvarna comes to mind, for example. But what would it rhyme with?

Subject: RE: Songs That Mention Harleys
From: Mr Happy
Date: 13 Sep 07 - 07:00 AM

Lisdoonvarna??

Subject: RE: Songs That Mention Harleys
From: Brian Hoskin
Date: 13 Sep 07 - 07:34 AM

"Just to be fair, I'd be curious to know if our British friends have produced any songs mentioning Norton, Triumph, Matchless or other famous machines of your manufacture; i.e., racing related songs, etc."

The late John B Spencer wrote and recorded the song 'BSA Bantam'

Subject: RE: Songs That Mention Harleys
From: GUEST,Darowyn
Date: 13 Sep 07 - 08:07 AM

"Leader of the Pack" (Shangri-Las) although it does not mention Harleys, does include the sound of quite an early one. I can never quite decide, but it might be one of the old side-valve ones.
It's just before "Look Out!Look Out!Look Out!Look Out!"
I do have a home-made CD compilation of dead Biker songs (and some dead car driver songs like "Tell Laura I love Her" too, but I can't think of any that mention UK manufacturers,apart from the previously mentioned Richard Thompson song. This is in spite of the fact that, at one time, I could go throught the alphabet listing a British Bike maker for every letter.
Cheers
Dave
Lifelong biker

Subject: RE: Songs That Mention Harleys
From: PMB
Date: 13 Sep 07 - 09:51 AM

The shades of night were falling fast
When through an alpine village passed
A youth, who rode midst snow and ice
A motorbike, a strange device-
      
            Excelsior!

Subject: RE: Songs That Mention Harleys
From: GUEST,Bob Ryszkiewicz
Date: 13 Sep 07 - 12:09 PM

Both songs from my EP/album, "THE GHOST OF ELVIS" are biker/bike related, although not Harley specific. More of a "chopper" feel. 1/The Ghost of Elvis 2/The Soul Eater. They can be heard at:
http://www.myspace.com/bobryszkiewicz

Or, purchased at all major download shops, eg. iTunes...

All the best to everyone,
bob

p.s. who was it who said,"you have to blow your own horn, cause ain't nobody else will..."?

Subject: RE: Songs That Mention Harleys
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 13 Sep 07 - 12:21 PM

There's a British bike in the Bible but it sounds like it needed a tuneup...

The Triumph of Moses was heard throughout the land!

LTS

Subject: RE: Songs That Mention Harleys
From: Bob Hitchcock
Date: 13 Sep 07 - 10:04 PM

I seem to recall a song by The Animals years ago that mentioned Harleys. I think the song was about the people of San Fransisco so that dates it to around 1967 or so. Sorry I can't be more specific but the old memory aint what it once was.

Bob.

Subject: RE: Songs That Mention Harleys
From: Charley Noble
Date: 14 Sep 07 - 08:38 AM

Here's another vote for John Warner's song called "Harley Dinosaur." It features a recently hatched triceratops that's adopted by a mother sheep.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Songs That Mention Harleys
From: Bob the Postman
Date: 14 Sep 07 - 09:41 AM

"Quand je ride mon Harley je feel un pour cent
Pis je fume ma ti joint de temps en temps"

Cayouche in "Mon Bicycle, Ma Musique"

Subject: RE: Songs That Mention Harleys
From: Pinetop Slim
Date: 14 Sep 07 - 11:53 AM

His left arm rides to live
His right arm lives to ride
He's got the Harley patent
Tatooed on his backside
Skull and crossbones
Say he's born to be free
He's got a Chinese dragon
But it's just for me.
-- From "Tatooed Daddy" by Heidi Nirk

Subject: RE: Songs That Mention Harleys
From: oldhippie
Date: 15 Sep 07 - 04:17 PM

A few more have surfaced:

Harley - Don Henry
Out On The Highway - Tim Hall
Harley Davidson - Diva & Wild Man
Jesus Rode A Harley - Ugly Kid Joe

Subject: RE: Songs That Mention Harleys
From: frogprince
Date: 15 Sep 07 - 11:23 PM

They say in Harley county, there are no neutrals there...

Subject: RE: Songs That Mention Harleys
From: GUEST,woodsie
Date: 16 Sep 07 - 08:04 AM

The Animals song was "San Franciscan Nights"

... Jeans of blue, harley davidsons too
On a warm san Fransican night
Youn angel, old angel, feel alright

Subject: RE: Songs That Mention Harleys
From: van lingle
Date: 16 Sep 07 - 08:32 AM

RT's original recording on Rumor and Sigh of VBL doesn't actually mention Harleys "...Nortons and Indians and Greeves won't do." but does mention Ariels in the last verse.

Subject: RE: Songs That Mention Harleys
From: GUEST,Pat in America
Date: 07 Dec 08 - 06:19 PM

I coming in very late on this...but I caught your name on a thread here talking about "Ragland Road". I've been searching for years for an interpretation of this great poem by Patrick Kavanaugh put to music of "Dawning of the Day"
Can you tell me where I should write/email to get some information about this poem?
Pat

Subject: RE: Songs That Mention Harleys
From: Leadfingers
Date: 08 Dec 08 - 11:57 AM

And Brian Peters has a clever rewrite of Seven Drunken Nights - The Narrator comes home and finds a Harley Davidson where his old Push Bike should be !