C. W. McCall - Riverside Slide Lyrics






One cold, black night of a Colorado winter
It snowed on Red Mountain Pass
We warned ev'rybody that the Slide was runnin'
An' 5-5-Oh was a mess
But outta the plowshed, south a' town
Come a blade with a flashin' blue light
We told that boy: "Whatever you do
Beware of the Riverslide Slide"

Now that plow-jockey knew he had a job to do
Been dodgin' them slides for years
But we all knew, deep down inside
He was livin' with a thing called fear
'Cause you don't mess around with an avalanche, son
A lotta men tried, and died
Yeah, you get them plows past Bear Creek Falls
You lookin' at the Riverside Slide

Now all a' us folks around Ouray County
Seen a lotta them cold, black nights
When the only thing movin' is a big ol' plow
Flashin' them weird blue lights
You drive them snowplows around these parts
You gotta have a real thick hide
'Cause ya never quite know what time a' the night
You gonna die in the Riverside Slide

Well, it snowed six feet on the mountain that night
An' we knew what was comin' on down
An' so did the boy an' his flashin' blue light
When he rolled that blade outta town
Well, he took that plow up 5-5-Oh
An' he felt it lean to one side
An' before he knew it, he was buried alive
At the bottom of the Riverside Slide

Yeah, all a' us folks around Ouray County
Seen a lotta them cold, black nights
When the only thing movin' is a big ol' plow
Flashin' them weird blue lights
We found the boy in the early spring
Still settin', the plow on its side
Yeah, ya never quite know what time a' the night
You gonna die in the Riverside Slide





Other Lyrics by Artist

Rand Lyrics

Last Posts

C. W. McCall Riverside Slide Comments
  1. R.... S....

    A haunting and menacing song......rather like the actual Riverside slide.
    C.W.McCall is brilliant!!!
    (Or should I say 'Billy F')

  2. s.... ....

    still have all his albums

  3. G.... G....

    Lord; Next thing I know, I'll find Winnamucka' Trucker.

    G.... G....

    Dam if I didn't go right to the song. It's titled "Night Rider".

  4. s.... s....

    The only song I know that's about an avalanche. C W McCall was a talented man in his own unique way.

  5. w.... ....

    CW was the ultimate story teller. I still like his music 40 years later.

    w.... ....

    i got hit autpgraph! hes a badass i sent him a letter and he sent the picture of him in a jeep with his signature and my name on it.

    w.... ....

    I still love Aurora Borealis. "He had never seen the Milky Way." I think of it every time I see the stars in the Rockys wilderness.

  6. B.... P....

    Who was the douche who disliked this song?????

  7. s.... ....

    I always liked this song.

  8. T.... C....

    has been a long long time since I've heard this song! im glad i found it again =D

  9. d.... ....

    I like this

  10. A.... C....

    Love this song!!!

  11. s.... ....

    550 went past the place I lived in New Mexico. So cool to hear it mentioned in a song. Really takes me back to the days we'd drive up from Aztec, NM to Durango, CO.

  12. J.... H....

    My thanks too. I've travelled to many of the places on the western slope that CW sang about. Haven't been to the camp bird mine, although I drove past the road that leads to it. Haven't been on Black Bear road either, but i know folks who have. We rode the Silverton train. The song comes alive when you ride the real thing! Yes there is a monument at the Riverside Slide honoring many who died and all those who still risk their lives to keep the road open. I wore out the grooves on my CW albums!

  13. u.... ....

    Any one who wants to send a card or letter to Bill (CW McCall) his address is
    Bill Fries
    P.O. Box E
    Ouray, CO 81427

    He was born November 15, 1928

    u.... ....

    Damn, he's still kickin'?

  14. T.... ....

    Do you have ny more C.W. McCall? I'm trying to rebuild my music library to where it was before my (now) x-wife intruced ALL my vinyl to Mr. Dumpster. Specififc songs I'm looking for are: Camp Bird Mine, Niobrara, Nishnabotna, Audobon, Round the World w/ Rubber Duck, The Gallopin' Goose, Columbine, 4 Wheel Cowboy.
    Thanx

    T.... ....

    I know this might be a little late but most if not all of those are on youtube

  15. K.... K....

    Excellent! Like you I played these albums until I wore them out! I still have them all, and appreciate you posting. I love everyone of his songs, nothing like a great story, and story teller. I ran acoss his San Juan Oddesy presentation while in Ouray a few summers ago and it is really good. I am headed back to Ouray area for vacation and will be playing many of CW's tunes for sure.

  16. c.... ....

    WOW the only thing i ever learned on drums was this "down drop". i love this song thanks for posting it

  17. f.... ....

    Very good song . As a big CW fan i must thank you a lot for uploading this song

  18. u.... ....

    Thanks been Long time. This is based on truth. 550 has a marker on south of Ouray for the three men killed on it that were plow drivers.

    Thanks for posting song.

    u.... ....

    still got the 8 tracks