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Hitchin a ride album cover

Hitchin' a Ride is a song by Green Day, the first single released from their album Nimrod in 1997. The song contributed to the critical opinion that the album was more musically varied than previous Green Day albums.

Hitchin' a Ride begins with a violin introduction reminiscent of the Jewish Klezmer style and then leads into a distinct 4 note bass guitar riff that carries on throughout the song. Listeners may hear a slight change in Billie Joe Armstrong's usual voice tone that he claims was adopted merely for the purpose of the song. The walking tempo to Hitchin' a Ride is interrupted in the middle by the heavier bridge featuring the trademark distortion and general loud noise similar to many Green Day songs.

Background[]

This song tells the troubles of an alcoholic having trouble staying sober. The lyrics highlight Green Day at their most inventive, with nearly every phrase having two or more meanings as it plays with literal and figurative meanings of works and expressions.

Music Video[]

The music video for Hitchin' a Ride was directed by Mark Kohr, the director that Green Day had favoured throughout the Dookie and Insomniac singles. Other videos to his name are classics such as Basket Case, When I Come Around, Geek Stink Breath, and then later Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) and Redundant. The video shows the band performing in a theatre amongst strange characters in theatrical costumes. They're also shown walking off a treadmill style machine while still playing. In the video, Billie Joe's infamous Fernandes Stratocaster 'Blue' can be seen. Mike Dirnt uses a Fender Precision Bass and drummer Tré Cool has a single snare drum with a cymbal attached slung over his shoulders, on which he plays. He also has a bass drum hung over his back.

During the chorus, the members of Green Day switch to a stage setup. During the bridge of the song, Billie Joe is shown jumping on a bar counter and throwing glasses and bottles at the other characters.

Live[]

This is one of the Nimrod songs that's been a staple since release. Being the lead single from that album, it appeared on TV shows like David Letterman as well as regular setlists.

The middle portion of the song is usually extended, giving Billie the opportunity to play with the audience - or, commonly on the Warning and American Idiot tours, himself. The song also appears on Bullet in a Bible.

Hitchin' a Ride remained a regular on the 21st Century Breakdown tour, although at a few later shows, the last chorus wasn't played, with the song cutting to Welcome to Paradise.

The song wasn't played at the early shows on the 99 Revolutions Tour, but reappeared for the European festival shows.

Hitchin' a Ride was a staple of the Revolution Radio tour.

Lyrics[]

[Violin Intro]

[Verse 1]
Hey mister, where you headed?
Are you in a hurry?
Need a lift to happy hour
Say, "oh no"
Do you brake for distilled spirits?
I need a break as well
The well that inebriates the guilt
One, two, one, two, three, four

[Verse 2]
Cold turkey's getting stale
Tonight I'm eating crow
Fermented salmonella, poison oak no
There's a drought at the fountain of youth
And now I'm dehydrated
My tongue is swelling up
I say one, two, one, two, three, four

[Refrain]
Troubled times, you know I cannot lie
I'm off the wagon and I'm hitchin' a ride

[Bridge]
There's a drought at the fountain of youth
And now I'm dehydrated
My tongue is swelling up, I say...
SHIT!!!!!!

[Guitar Solo]

[Refrain]
Troubled times, you know I cannot lie
I'm off the wagon and I'm hitchin' a ride

[Outro]
(Don't know where to go) Hitchin' a ride
(Don't know where to go) Hitchin' a ride
(Don't know where to go) Hitchin' a ride
(Don't know where to go) Hitchin' a ride
(Don't know where to go) Hitchin' a ride
(Don't know where to go) Hitchin' a ride
(Don't know where to go) Hitchin' a ride
(Don't know where to go) Hitchin' a ride
Say birthday boys, hey!

Video gallery[]

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