Christopher Cross - Ride Like the Wind 7:5:25 7.25 PM

Photo: Steven Miller - Christopher Cross
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Intro by Gail Nobles

It seems Christopher Cross, known for his smooth sounds and sailing vibes, may have a past shrouded in… psychedelic mystery.  This "Ride Like The Wind," a song that whispers of sun-drenched escapes and urgent journeys, isn't quite the breezy yacht rock anthem we thought.  Instead, it's allegedly the confession of a multiple murderer, a desperate fugitive fleeing the hangman's noose for the promise of sanctuary south of the border.

But here's where the plot thickens.  This isn't some dark, brooding confessional birthed from inner torment.  No, this lyrical tale of desperation was apparently conceived during a colorful trip fueled by LSD.

Our artist, on a dreamlike drive through the Texas landscape, sought inspiration in a... different state of mind.  The image is almost comical: a musician, perhaps humming a gentle tune, suddenly hit by the vision of a hardened criminal tearing across the desert, all thanks to the mind-altering effects of a chemical compound.

Now, one must ask: Does the song *really* sound like the confession of a killer? Does the breezy instrumentation and Cross's gentle vocals truly convey the desperation of a man facing imminent death? Or is it just a cleverly disguised, well-intentioned attempt at a profound statement? It's certainly a head scratcher to imagine how this was conceived whilst high.

"Ride Like The Wind" has been reassessed. It is not only a feel-good song. We can appreciate the music for its story telling, but also that it came to exist from a very unique space and state of mind. I'm sure listeners will never listen to the song the same way again.

You're listening to the Cat Bear. I'm your host, Gail Nobles.


Music commentary news.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Christopher Cross Ride Like the Wind. It seems Christopher Cross,

(00:23):
known for his smooth sounds and sailing vibes, may have
a past shrouded in psychedelic mystery. This Ride Like the Wind,
a song that whispers of sun drenched escapes and urgent journeys,
isn't quite the breezy, yacht rock anthem we thought. Instead,

(00:49):
it's allegedly the confession of a multiple murderer, a desperate
fugitive fleeing the Hangman's news for the promise of sanctuary
south of the border. But here's where the plot thickens.

(01:09):
This isn't some dark, brooding confessional birth from inner torment. No,
this lyrical tale of desperation was apparently conceived during a
colorful trip fueled by lsd our artists on a dream

(01:32):
like drive through the Texas landscape sought inspiration in a
different state of mind. The image is almost comical, a musician,
perhaps humming a gentle tune, suddenly hit by the vision
of a hardened criminal tearing across the desert, all thanks

(01:57):
to the mind altering effects of a chemical compound. Now
one must ask, does the song really sound like the
confession of a killer? Does the breezy instrumentation and Crosses
gentle vocals truly convey the desperation of a man facing

(02:21):
imminent death. Or is it just a cleverly disguised, well
intentioned attempt at a profound statement. It's certainly a head
scratcher to imagine how this was conceived. While high Ride

(02:45):
Like the Wind has been reassessed, it is not only
a feel good song. We can appreciate the music for
its storytelling, but also that it came to exist from
a very unique space and state of mind. I'm sure

(03:06):
listeners will never listen to the song the same way again.
The song was released in February nineteen eighty by Christopher Cross.
It was the lead single from his Grammy winning nineteen
seventy nine self titled debut album. It reached number two

(03:30):
on the US charts for four consecutive weeks. You're listening
to the cat Bear. I am your host, Gail Nobles.
Today's topic Christopher Cross Ride Like the Wind