Ballad Of Easy Rider - The Byrds
2:04
Ballad Of Easy Rider, 1969
Written by Roger McGuinn
This song has a surprisingly twisty origin story. First, it was originally released on a McGuinn solo album, the soundtrack for the movie Easy Rider. The song also came about because they couldn't get the rights to "It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)." Instead, Peter Fonda got McGuinn to write this one, which he did, inspired by a few quick lines from Dylan. However, Dylan demanded that Fonda and McGuinn take his name off as co-author — whether because he didn't like the movie's bleak ending, or he just didn't want his name tied to another counter-culture anthem, who knows. Anyhoo, the song is a fine example of the mellow folk-rock of the era. McGuinn's airy tenor, sounding like an American-born Donovan, that gentle 12-string shimmer, and a calm, ambling melody make it a gentle listen, even if the whole is slightly marred by the addition of a misplaced string section.
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