He regularly does solo work, and returns again and again to bands he has formed like The Soft Boys and The Egyptians. Hitchcock is an avid and able collaborator with people like director Jonathan Demme, actor Alan Rickman, country/folk duo (and longtime Hitchcock fans) Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, The Venus 3, R.E.M.'s Peter Buck, Young Fresh Fellows' frontman Scott McCaughey, Andy Partridge of XTC, Nick Lowe, former Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones, Jon Brion, and Grant-Lee Phillips, as well as Ministry's Bill Rieflin.
Hitchcock's musical and lyrical styles have been influenced by his appreciation of Bob Dylan, Gregory Corso, The Byrds, Country Joe & The Fish, and Syd Barrett.
Hitchcock's lyrics are an essential component of his work, and tend to include surrealism, comedic songs, characterisations of English eccentrics, plant roots, insects, trains, dreams, and melancholy depictions of everyday life. His themes include what many psychologists view as the roots of modern neurosis - namely, death, sex, and eating. (As if in recognition of these themes, he released an EP in 2007 called "Sex, Food, Death and Tarantulas".)
Ride
Robyn Hitchcock Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The first time she saw you, she hoped you were gay
It's hard to recover when you're the disease
But I'm ready, I swear it, I'm walking around in these
Railway shoes, In my railway shoes
The ghost of your father is right by your side
He's so close to you that he's almost inside
But he isn't you, and you know you're not him
In your railway shoes, In your railway shoes
Take the train, take the other train, mister and stand by
Take the train, take the other train, honey and ride
Madam, I burn for you night after day
I'm empty without you and colder than clay
The wax on my body is making me cold
But I'll never be able to go where I'm told in my
Railway shoes, In my railway shoes
In my railway shoes, In my railway shoes
Take the train, take the other train, honey and stand by
Take the train, take the other train, mister and ride
Ride, ride, ride
The lyrics to Robyn Hitchcock's "Ride" are rich in evocative imagery, but their meaning is somewhat elusive. At their core, they seem to be an exploration of themes like loss, alienation, and the struggle to find one's place in the world. The opening lines set a melancholy tone, with their casual reference to "leaves on the table" that are "turning grey." The sense of decay and decline is underscored by the following line, which suggests that the singer has been pining for someone who is not interested in them. The phrase "it's hard to recover when you're the disease" is particularly resonant; it suggests a sense of desperation and futility that permeates the entire song.
The image of railway shoes, which appears throughout the song's lyrics, serves as a potent metaphor for the singer's sense of displacement. They are walking around in these shoes, trying to find their way in the world, but they can't seem to get where they want to go. The ghost of the father, which is alluded to in the second verse, heightens this sense of dislocation. It's not clear exactly what role the father figure is supposed to play in the song, but it seems likely that he represents some kind of authority or tradition that the singer is struggling to escape from.
Despite its sense of sadness and longing, "Ride" ends on a hopeful note. The repeated refrain "Take the train, take the other train, honey and ride" suggests that there is a way out of the singer's predicament, even if it may not be immediately clear what that is. The song's final lines, "Ride, ride, ride," suggest a kind of forward motion or momentum. Whether this is a positive or negative development is left up to the listener to decide.
Line by Line Meaning
The leaves on the table are all turning grey
The passage of time is evident and things are slowly losing their color and vibrancy.
The first time she saw you, she hoped you were gay
She wasn't interested in you romantically, and actually hoped you were gay.
It's hard to recover when you're the disease
It's difficult to improve or move on when you're the one causing problems in a situation.
But I'm ready, I swear it, I'm walking around in these
The artist is confident that they are ready to make a change and is currently wearing the appropriate shoes to do so.
Railway shoes, In my railway shoes
The artist emphasizes the importance of their shoes, which they associate with travel and making a change.
The ghost of your father is right by your side
Memories and lessons from the singer's father influence their decision-making and are always present with them.
He's so close to you that he's almost inside
The singer feels their father's presence deeply and is influenced by their wisdom.
He's guiding your head and he's guiding your limbs
The artist feels their father's guidance in both their thoughts and actions.
But he isn't you, and you know you're not him
The artist acknowledges that they are their own person, separate from their father's influence, and ultimately responsible for their own decisions.
Take the train, take the other train, mister and stand by
The artist encourages someone to take control of their life and take a chance by getting on a different train, metaphorically speaking.
Take the train, take the other train, honey and ride
The singer continues to encourage this person to take a risk and make a change in their life.
Madam, I burn for you night after day
The artist is deeply passionate about the addressee and thinks of them constantly.
I'm empty without you and colder than clay
Without the addressee, the singer feels hollow and lifeless.
The wax on my body is making me cold
The metaphorical coating on the singer's physical and emotional self is making them feel numb and disconnected.
But I'll never be able to go where I'm told in my
The singer recognizes that they may never be able to go where others want them to or take a predetermined path.
Railway shoes, In my railway shoes
Once again, the artist emphasizes the importance of their shoes in the context of change and self-determination.
Ride, ride, ride
The artist urges the listener, and perhaps themselves, to embrace movement and change.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ROBYN HITCHCOCK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Winwolfe2000
Mr. Hitchcock is brilliant, beautiful, and sadly, unappreciated
Amelia Hinojosa
So well produced and arranged. Every song on this album is different and satisfying. I love how they resolve the song musically at the end as the lyrics "better ride on home" are playing.
CraigMichaelClarke
Thank you! I LOVE this song! LOVE LOVE LOVE!!
Tiger Parker
Still doesn't need a video.