Hitchhiker
Neil Young Lyrics

When I was a hitchhiker on the road
At a time when I was completely dependent on the kindness of strangers

I had to count on you
I had to rely on the help and support of others to get by

But you needed me to ease the load and for conversation too
However, I realized that some people actually enjoyed having me around for company

Or did you just drive on through?
Or perhaps they were just passing through and didn't really care about my situation

You didn't see me in Toronto
I was once all alone in Toronto with no one to turn to for assistance

When I first tried out some hash
It was at that point that I turned to drugs to make myself feel better

I smoked through a pen and I'd do it again if I only had some cash
I had to get creative with my drug use because I didn't have much money

If I only had some cash, ooh
Given the choice, I would have preferred to rely on more conventional means of coping

Then I tried amphetamines
My drug experimentation continued with more dangerous and harmful substances

My head was in a glass
I felt completely disconnected from reality

Taped underneath the speedometer wires of my '48 Buick's dash
I was so desperate for my fix that I even went to the trouble of hiding my drugs in my car

But I knew that wouldn't last
I realized that this lifestyle was not sustainable

Then came California
Eventually, I found myself in California

When I first saw open water
In this new environment, I was struck by a sense of possibility and freedom

In the land of opportunity
California represented a new chance for me to start over and make something of myself

I knew I was getting hotter
I was feeling more alive and motivated than ever before

But the neon light and the endless night
However, the bright lights and constant activity of the city soon started to wear me down

They took me by surprise
I was unprepared for the challenges of living in a place like California

The doctor gave me Valium but I still couldn't close my eyes
I turned to medication to try and help me cope with my anxiety and fears

I still couldn't close my eyes
Even with medication, I struggled to find any sense of peace or calm

Then came paranoia
Eventually, I became consumed by extreme feelings of anxiety and fear

And it ran away with me
My paranoia completely took over my life and all my thoughts

I couldn't sign my autograph or appear on TV
I became so entrenched in my paranoia that it became difficult to function in day-to-day life

Or see or be seen
I became disconnected from the outside world and cut off from other people

Living in the country
Eventually, I left the city for a more rural lifestyle

Sounded good to me
I was hoping that this would give me the peace and solitude I needed to overcome my problems

Smoking grass with my Chicago lass in the real organic sea
I found comfort in the simple pleasures of life and sharing them with others

Where everything was green
I found solace in being surrounded by nature and all of its beauty

We had a kid and we split apart
However, my personal struggles and demons eventually led to the breakup of my family

Now I'm living on the road
I found myself back on the road and in a place of deep uncertainty and instability

And a little cocaine goes a long, long way to ease that different load
Once again, I turned to drugs to try and cope with my troubles

But that ain't all that I know
I am aware that this lifestyle and way of coping is not sustainable and will only lead to more pain and suffering

I wish I was an Aztec
I often dream of going back in time to a simpler existence

Or a runner in Peru
I romanticize the idea of living in a different culture and time

I would build such beautiful buildings
In this fantasy world, I see myself as being able to create beauty and better the world around me

To house the chosen few
However, in reality, I am aware that this is just a pipe dream and not something that will ever happen