REO Speedwagon

Songwriter: Neal Doughty Alan Gratzer Gary Richrath Gregg Philbin Terry Luttrell

Producer: Gary Richrath John Henning John Stronach

[Intro]
Oh yeah
Alright, people, climb aboard
Let's take a ride down Riverside Avenue, 157
Alright, here we go!

[Verse 1]
We flew into town on Sunday, had to find a place by Monday
Tried Bridgeport and Westport, 'til we found a place that we thought would do
157 Riverside Avenue, yeah

[Verse 2]
Well, the Saugatuck River's flowin', Mother Nature's colors are showin'
So cold, so rainy, we couldn't help feelin' blue
Not enough time and too many things to do
(So we just sat there and played some)

[Verse 3]
Well, we met a young girl on Main Street, wanted to pass her by
She was homely, but we were lonely, she said, "Can I make love to you?"
I said, "157 Riverside Avenue"
(And she talked like a guitar, she said)
(Ooh, a fast-talkin' woman)

[Verse 4]
Well, it's over, Miss Lena, we're leaving. Such a pleasant stay, I must say
So nice, so easy, we hate to say goodbye to you
At 157 Riverside Avenue, yeah

[Outro]
Whoo, yeah
That bass sound good to me
That's Regis on the bass guitar
Alright, but let me tell you
Let me tell you 'bout something here
Every once in a while
Within rock and roll bands, you see
There are little lacks of communication
You know what I'm talkin' 'bout?
No? Well, let me tell you
Let me tell you
You see, Gary, he plays the guitar
Myself, I sing, you see
So sometimes there's a little gap in between there
Let me give you an example
Let me give you an example
Just the other day, you probably remember it well
It was just the other day, you remember that?
Just the other day, I swear to God, people, just the other day
I called Gary up on the telephone, you see
And he picked up the phone, he said
(Lead guitar solo)
Shit
So I tell you, I gotta be truthful, you took me a little bit by surprise
So I had to think a bit, I sat back
I thought about it
And I said
(Scatting by Kevin Cronin)
(Lead guitar response)
Oh, come on, come on, come on, now, people
Talk to me on time
Talk to me with your hands
Said a-one
Said a-two
Said a-one, two
A-one, a-two, a-one, two, three, four

REO Speedwagon (originally styled as R.E.O. Speedwagon) is an American rock band from Champaign, Illinois. Formed in 1967, the band cultivated a following during the 1970s and achieved significant commercial success throughout the 1980s. Hi Infidelity (1980) contained four US Top 40 hits and is the group’s best-selling album, with over ten million copies sold.

more tracks from the album

A Decade of Rock and Roll 1970 to 1980

From the albums

Live: You Get What You Play For (1977)
A Decade of Rock and Roll 1970 to 1980 (1980)
The Essential REO Speedwagon (2004)

REO Speedwagon popular songs

157 Riverside Avenue [Live]REO Speedwagon

REO Speedwagon

A Decade of Rock and Roll 1970 to 1980