Arlo Guthrie (born 10th July 1947, Brooklyn, New York ) is an American folk… Read Full Bio ↴Arlo Guthrie (born 10th July 1947, Brooklyn, New York ) is an American folk singer who is the son of folk singer and composer Woody Guthrie and his wife Marjorie Mazia Guthrie, a one-time professional dancer with the Martha Graham Company and founder of The Committee to Combat Huntington's Disease. He graduated from the Stockbridge School of Massachusetts in 1965, and briefly attended Rocky Mountain College.

His most famous work is Alice's Restaurant, a talking blues song that lasts eighteen minutes and twenty seconds (in its original recorded version; Guthrie has been known to spin the story out to forty-five minutes in concert). The song, a bitingly satirical protest against the Vietnam War draft, is based on a true incident. In the song, Guthrie was called up for a draft examination, and rejected as unfit for military service as a result of a criminal record consisting in its entirety of a single arrest, court appearance, fine and clean-up order for littering. In reality, Guthrie, though a carrier of the genetically inherited disease Huntington's chorea, was classified as fit (1A); however, his draft-lottery number did not come up.

Motorcycle
Arlo Guthrie Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

[Chorus]
I don't want a pickle
Just want to ride on my motorcycle
And I don't want a tickle
'Cause I'd rather ride on my motorcycle
And I don't want to die
I just want to ride on my motorcycle

It was late last night the other day
I thought I'd go up and see Ray
So l went up and I saw Ray
There was only one thing Ray could say, was:

[Chorus]

Just last week I was on my bike
I run into a friend named Mike
Run into my friend named Mike
Mike no longer has a bike. He cries:

[Chorus]

Overall Meaning

The Motorcycle Song by Arlo Guthrie is an ode to freedom and individualism, portraying a rebellious attitude that is insistent on independence and self-reliance. It is primarily about the thrill of riding a motorcycle and the sense of liberation that it brings. The chorus emphasizes the singer's desire to continue riding their motorcycle without any interference or distraction from anything else - including pickles and tickles. The song focuses on the desire for absolute self-determination and steering one's life in the way they see fit, with "not wanting to die" being a subtle reminder of the risks involved in such a lifestyle.

In addition, the verses feature Arlo Guthrie's humorous storytelling that details the comical encounters on his seemingly never-ending journey. The song's tongue-in-cheek tone adds to its charm and light-heartedness. The chorus is repeated throughout the song, creating a catchy hook for the listener to follow. The Motorcycle Song is an excellent representation of the free-spirited nature of the 1960s counterculture, showcasing the idea of rejecting societal norms in favor of living according to one's own values and desires.

Line by Line Meaning

I don't want a pickle
I do not desire unnecessary possessions

Just want to ride on my motorcycle
I simply yearn to ride my motorcycle

And I don't want a tickle
I do not desire frivolous pleasures

'Cause I'd rather ride on my motorcycle
I prefer the simple pleasure of riding my motorcycle

And I don't want to die
I am not seeking danger or a premature demise

I just want to ride on my motorcycle
I solely desire to ride my motorcycle

It was late last night the other day
Recently, it was late at night

I thought I'd go up and see Ray
I decided to pay a visit to Ray

So l went up and I saw Ray
I proceeded to visit Ray and met him

There was only one thing Ray could say, was:
Ray only had one statement to make:

Just last week I was on my bike
Recently, I was riding my motorcycle