Hitchin' A Ride
Vanity Fare Lyrics
A thumb goes up, a car goes by
It's nearly one A.M. and here am I
Hitchin' a ride, hitchin' a ride
Gotta get me home before the morning light
I got no fare to ride a train
I'm nearly drowin' in the pouring rain
Hitchin' a ride, hitchin' a ride
Gotta get me home to my baby's side
Ride, ride, ride, hitchin' a ride
Long distance call I got today
She sounded lonely so I'm on my way
Hitchin' a ride, hitchin' a ride
Gotta get me home, to keep her satisfied
Ride, ride, ride, hitchin' a ride
Ride, ride, ride, hitchin' a ride
A thumb goes up, a car goes by
Oh, won't somebody stop and help a guy?
Hitchin' a ride, hitchin' a ride
Been away too long from my baby's side
Ride, ride, ride, hitchin' a ride
Ride, ride, ride, hitchin' a ride
Ride, ride
Ride, ride
Ride, ride
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Mitch Murray, Peter Callander
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on specific lyrics, highlight them
Vanity Fare were a British pop/rock group formed in 1966, best remembered for their million-selling song, "Hitchin' a Ride", which became a worldwide hit in 1970, and "Early In The Morning".
School friends Trevor Brice (vocals), Tony Goulden (guitar), Dick Allix (drums), and Tony Jarrett (bass) formed the band in Kent in 1966, originally calling themselves The Avengers. They played local clubs and were spotted by entrepreneur Roger Easterby who became their manager and producer. Read Full BioVanity Fare were a British pop/rock group formed in 1966, best remembered for their million-selling song, "Hitchin' a Ride", which became a worldwide hit in 1970, and "Early In The Morning".
School friends Trevor Brice (vocals), Tony Goulden (guitar), Dick Allix (drums), and Tony Jarrett (bass) formed the band in Kent in 1966, originally calling themselves The Avengers. They played local clubs and were spotted by entrepreneur Roger Easterby who became their manager and producer. Having changed the name of the band to Vanity Fare after the novel Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray, they signed to Page One Records (a division of Bell Records). Vanity Fare achieved a U.K. hit single with their first release, a cover of "I Live for the Sun" (originally recorded by The Sunrays in 1965) in 1968. Following two more singles, "Summer Morning" and "Highway of Dreams", both of which failed to make the U.K. Singles Chart, they released their biggest U.K. hit, "Early in the Morning". Written by Mike Leander and Eddie Seago, it reached number eight in the U.K.y in August 1969 and number twelve in the U.S. in early 1970.
For their next release "Hitchin' a Ride" they added keyboardist Barry Landemento the group. "Hitchin' a Ride", written by Peter Callander and Mitch Murray, gave them a million-selling hit reaching number five in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and number sixteen in the U.K. in January 1970. This disc received a gold disc awarded by the Recording Industry Association of America.
The hit was preceded by a tour of the United States, following which both Dick Allix and Tony Goulden left the band and were replaced by guitarist and singer Eddie Wheeler and drummer Mark Ellen.
Two more singles followed before the end of 1970; Mike Leander and Eddie Seago's "Come Tomorrow" and Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway's "Carolina's Coming Home", both of which failed to enter the charts on either side of the Atlantic.
Over the next couple of years more singles were released including Tony Macaulay's "Better by Far" on DJM Records in 1972, but none of them entered the charts. Following this they decided to concentrate on live performances touring Europe, where they were having hit singles. Following the mid 1970s, and amid many band member changes (including the departure of Tony Jarrett, replaced by Bernie Hagley), the group recorded only sporadically. In 1986, the band attempted to represent the U.K. in the Eurovision Song Contest, finishing third in the UK heat of A Song for Europe, with the song "Dreamer" featuring Jimmy Cassidy on vocals, Phil Kitto on keyboards alongside long time members Ellen, Wheeler and Bernie Hagley. In 2007 they toured alongside P. J. Proby.
They are still together today with a line up of Hagley, Wheeler, Ellen, and Steve Oakman.
School friends Trevor Brice (vocals), Tony Goulden (guitar), Dick Allix (drums), and Tony Jarrett (bass) formed the band in Kent in 1966, originally calling themselves The Avengers. They played local clubs and were spotted by entrepreneur Roger Easterby who became their manager and producer. Read Full BioVanity Fare were a British pop/rock group formed in 1966, best remembered for their million-selling song, "Hitchin' a Ride", which became a worldwide hit in 1970, and "Early In The Morning".
School friends Trevor Brice (vocals), Tony Goulden (guitar), Dick Allix (drums), and Tony Jarrett (bass) formed the band in Kent in 1966, originally calling themselves The Avengers. They played local clubs and were spotted by entrepreneur Roger Easterby who became their manager and producer. Having changed the name of the band to Vanity Fare after the novel Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray, they signed to Page One Records (a division of Bell Records). Vanity Fare achieved a U.K. hit single with their first release, a cover of "I Live for the Sun" (originally recorded by The Sunrays in 1965) in 1968. Following two more singles, "Summer Morning" and "Highway of Dreams", both of which failed to make the U.K. Singles Chart, they released their biggest U.K. hit, "Early in the Morning". Written by Mike Leander and Eddie Seago, it reached number eight in the U.K.y in August 1969 and number twelve in the U.S. in early 1970.
For their next release "Hitchin' a Ride" they added keyboardist Barry Landemento the group. "Hitchin' a Ride", written by Peter Callander and Mitch Murray, gave them a million-selling hit reaching number five in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and number sixteen in the U.K. in January 1970. This disc received a gold disc awarded by the Recording Industry Association of America.
The hit was preceded by a tour of the United States, following which both Dick Allix and Tony Goulden left the band and were replaced by guitarist and singer Eddie Wheeler and drummer Mark Ellen.
Two more singles followed before the end of 1970; Mike Leander and Eddie Seago's "Come Tomorrow" and Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway's "Carolina's Coming Home", both of which failed to enter the charts on either side of the Atlantic.
Over the next couple of years more singles were released including Tony Macaulay's "Better by Far" on DJM Records in 1972, but none of them entered the charts. Following this they decided to concentrate on live performances touring Europe, where they were having hit singles. Following the mid 1970s, and amid many band member changes (including the departure of Tony Jarrett, replaced by Bernie Hagley), the group recorded only sporadically. In 1986, the band attempted to represent the U.K. in the Eurovision Song Contest, finishing third in the UK heat of A Song for Europe, with the song "Dreamer" featuring Jimmy Cassidy on vocals, Phil Kitto on keyboards alongside long time members Ellen, Wheeler and Bernie Hagley. In 2007 they toured alongside P. J. Proby.
They are still together today with a line up of Hagley, Wheeler, Ellen, and Steve Oakman.
More Genres
No Artists Found
More Artists
Load All
No Albums Found
More Albums
Load All
No Tracks Found
Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Search results not found
Song not found
Jerry Brown
A thumb goes up, a car goes by
It's nearly one A.M. and here am I
Hitchin' a ride, hitchin' a ride
Gotta get me home before the morning light
I got no fare to ride a train
I'm nearly drowin' in the pouring rain
Hitchin' a ride, hitchin' a ride
Gotta get me home to my baby's side
Ride, ride, ride, hitchin' a ride
Ride, ride, ride, hitchin' a ride
Long distance call I got today
She sounded lonely so I'm on my way
Hitchin' a ride, hitchin' a ride
Gotta get me home, to keep her satisfied
Ride, ride, ride, hitchin' a ride
Ride, ride, ride, hitchin' a ride
A thumb goes up, a car goes by
Oh, won't somebody stop and help a guy?
Hitchin' a ride, hitchin' a ride
Been away too long from my baby's side
Ride, ride, ride, hitchin' a ride
Ride, ride, ride, hitchin' a ride
Ride, ride
Ride, ride
Ride, ride
Deborah Johnson
I was a young teenager at 17 years old when this song came out ! I bought the record and played it over and over again . I love this song !! It's now 2022!
I miss those days as there were so many new and exciting bands and singers
Coming out that were and are still so talented!!.It was a good time to be young .
Torvil Åsulv Støle
I was 20. and loved iot!
Adam Berry
This is the last song my dad had playing on the radio before he passed away.
Rory Slaine
Sorry man.
Steve Goehring
The 8 people who don't like this song have no idea what good music is
Steve Crocker
or they just might lol
Cleetus Farragamo
Agreed!
SturmTigur
Now is none
Jeffery Ronson
@Billy Walkabout Everybody has their right to their opinion, Billy, don't judge.
Nathan Wahl
What a groove this song has going! Always loved the bass doing "running eights" where you play eighth notes continuously on the chord root note. The first two fingers of your right hand (righties) alternate quickly with each note, like they are running on the string, hence the name. You can hear it a lot in all forms of rock, but especially in this sub-genre. The piano dude is alternating left and right hand chords and the drummer supports the beat, while the guitar and vocals float above it, making for one heck of a driving groove on this song!!!