Hitchin' a Ride (Green Day song)

Single infobox
Name = Hitchin' a Ride


Artist = Green Day
from Album = Nimrod
Released = September 22, 1997
Format = CD
Recorded = 1997
Genre = Punk rock
Length = 2:51
Label = Reprise
Producer = Mark Kohr, Green Day
Last single = "Walking Contradiction"
(1996)
This single = "Hitchin' a Ride"
(1997)
Next single = "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)"
(1997)|

"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 lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong's usual voice tone that he claims was adopted merely for the purpose of the song.Fact|date=May 2008 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.

Track listing

#Hitchin' a Ride
#Sick (Non-LP Track)
#Espionage (Non-LP Track From " original motion picture soundtrack)

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, Billie Joe is shown jumping on a bar counter and throwing glasses and bottles at the other characters.

"Hitchin' a Ride" can also be found on "International Superhits!" and "Bullet in a Bible". Its music video can be found on "International Supervideos!".

Chart Positions