By takeitawayGuru
A-Road Less Travelled
On the highways and byways of the world you meet some interesting folks, those looking to get somewhere, get away from somewhere or someone, those looking for fame and fortune and others of no fixed abode simply moving on.
Much the same can be said of the nominations this week: a cross section of people and circumstances from Lady Stardust to Bonnie Parker; drifters hitching lifts in family saloons, 18-wheelers and GTs and those heading home or to the home of country music.
Who’s thumb grabbed my attention and who was left in a cloud of dust?
Jump in, let’s go, lay back and enjoy the show. Our first lift is with a vending machine repair man.
Radio playing and truckin' on thru the night picking up none other than little Lady Stardust following those little white lines into the morning light.
But the trouble with hitchhiking is you could wait a few minutes or by the second hour it seems like forty days just to hitch a ride.
You want to head for the other side.
Leave it all behind.
The throbbing sound of an engine, a thumb goes up, a car goes by. It's nearly one A.M. and another person hitchin' a ride through the night trying to get home before the morning light.
Lorries are your best bet, trucker gears his engine down. Says: ”Climb on up, son, I'm highway bound.”
You’ve got to Thumb a Ride and here is a country girl with a friendly face hoping her luck holds out and that she’ll catch a lift so by the time the sun goes down tomorrow, she should be home.
It's a long walk to Nashville and a long ride to stardom. “Would you like a ride?” Asks Hank.
His thumb was pointing my way. He didn't look suspicious. He was on his way to Haskell to see his woman down in Abilene, Texas. By the time I’d dropped him off I was wishing I was him and he was me.
However it is always sensible to find out who you’re picking up; any cute lady can ask. “Which way are you headed, boy. Do you need some company?”
Then before you know it she’s robbing a convenience store and you’re an accessory!
Sounds like Contributory Negligence to me !!!
A Road (Less Travelled) A-List Playlist:
Sheryl Crow – Every Day Is A Winding Road
Tom Robinson Band – 2-4-6-8 Motorway
Savoy Brown – Highway Blues
Boston – Hitch A Ride
Vanity Fair – Hitchin’ A Ride
Bruce Springsteen – Hitch Hikin’
Earl Wright and his Orchestra – Thumb A Ride
Dolly Parton – When The Sun Goes Down Tomorrow
David Allan Coe – The Ride
Lyle Lovett – West Texas Highway
Travis Tritt – Modern Day Bonnie and Clyde
Attila The Stockbroker – Contributory Negligence
By-Ways B-List Playlist:
Simon & Garfunkel – America
Pearl Jam – Hitch Hiker
Ramones – Rockaway Beach
Gov’t Mule – Broke Down on the Brazos
The Grateful Dead – Black Throated Wind
Tom Waits – Burma Shave
The White Stripes – Icky Thump
The Mutton Birds – White Valiant
Roger Waters – 5:01 AM (The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking)
Creedence Clearwater Revival – Up Around the Bend
Red City Radio – I’ll Catch a Ride
Heart – All I Wanna Do Is Make Love To You
Black Ace – Hitch Hiking Woman
Guru’s Wildcard Thumb Pick:
Green Day - Hitchin' A Ride
These playlists were inspired by readers' song nominations from last week's topic: Thumbs up: catch songs about hitchhiking. The next topic will launch on Thursday at 1pm UK time.
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