[Le Noise version] When I was a hitchhiker on the road I had to count on you But you needed me to ease the load And for conversation too Or did you just pass on through? You didn't see me in Toronto When I first tried out some hash Smoked through a pen and I'd do it again But I didn't have the cash I didn't have the cash Then I tried amphetamine And my head was in a glass Taped underneath the speedometer wires Of my '48 Buick's dash But I knew that wouldn't last Then came California When I first saw open water In the land of opportunity I knew I was getting hotter I knew I was getting hotter But the neon lights and the endless nights Fame took me by surprise The doctor gave me Valium But I still couldn't close my eyes I still couldn't close my eyes Then came paranoia And it ran away with me I would not sign my autograph Or appear on TV Or see or be seen Living in the country Looked good to me Smoking grass while the summer passed In a real organic scene Where everything was green Then we had a kid and we split apart I was living on the road And a little cocaine went a long, long way To ease that different load And my head did explode My head did explode I thought I was an Aztec Or a runner in Peru I could build such beautiful buildings To house the chosen few Like an Inca from Peru Now many years have come and gone Like friends and enemies I tried to leave my past behind But it's catching up with me It’s catching up with me I don't know how I'm standing here Living in my life I'm thankful for my children And my faithful wife [Hitchhiker version] When I was a hitchhiker on the road I had to count on you But you needed me to ease the load And for conversation too Or did you just drive on through? You didn't see me in Toronto When I first tried out some hash I smoked through a pen and I'd do it again If I only had some cash If I only had some cash Then I tried amphetamines And my head was in a glass Taped underneath the speedometer wires Of my '48 Buick's dash But I knew that wouldn't last Then came California Where I first saw open water In the land of opportunity I knew I was getting hotter I knew I was getting hotter But the neon lights And the endless nights They took me by surprise The doctor gave me valium But I still couldn't close my eyes I still couldn't close my eyes Then came paranoia And it ran away with me I couldn't sign my autograph Or appear on TV Or see or be seen Living in the country Sounded good to me Smoking grass with my Chicago lass In a real organic scene Where everything was green We had a kid and we split apart Now I'm living on the road And a little cocaine goes a long, long way To ease that different load But that ain't all that I know I wish I was an Aztec Or a runner in Peru I would build such beautiful buildings To house the chosen few Like an Inca from Peru