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Rolling Stonessongs: Hitch Hike
THE ROLLING STONES’ HITCH HIKE VIBE The Stones took Marvin Gaye’s Hitch Hike and cranked up the grit. That stuttering three-chord riff kicks things off with restless energy, while their stripped-down version ditches Motown’s horns for punchy guitars and handclaps. A fiery blues-rock solo adds extra swagger, though the mix feels a bit thin compared to other early Stones tracks. Still, their raw, guitar-driven spin gives the classic hit a lively, rebellious edge that’s pure early Stones energy.
I got no money in my pocket so I’m gonna have to hitch hike all the way/ I’m gonna find that girl if I have to hitch hike ’round the world…
More about The Rolling Stones’ version of Hitch Hike
Hitchhiking Across America: A Love Quest
Imagine standing by the roadside, thumb raised, waiting for a ride to anywhere and everywhere—all in the name of love. That’s the journey at the heart of Hitch Hike, Marvin Gaye’s early 1960s hit. The narrator embarks on a cross-country quest, traveling from Chicago to St. Louis and onward to Los Angeles, chasing a woman who has captured his heart. Co-written by Gaye, Mickey Stevenson, and Clarence Paul, the song was released in December 1962 with Hello There Angel on the B-side, climbing to number 30 on the Billboard charts by March 1963. Its irresistible handclaps, upbeat melody, and gospel-infused soul energy made it quintessential early Motown.
Gaye later brought it to life live on the TAMI Show in 1964, a concert filmed over two nights that also featured the Rolling Stones, blending the worlds of American R&B and emerging British rock. Hitchhiking—literal or emotional—becomes a metaphor for desire, determination, and the thrill of pursuing something just out of reach.
The Stones’ Take
The Rolling Stones had a knack for taking American R&B hits and giving them a raw, guitar-driven spin, and Hitch Hike was no exception. Their version opens with a stuttering, ascending three-chord riff that immediately sets a lively, almost restless tone. While Gaye’s original leaned into Motown’s lush production, complete with handclaps, backing chants, and a gentle groove, the Stones stripped away the horns and emphasized rhythmic drive and gritty lead guitars. They even injected a brief, fiery blues-rock solo into the instrumental break, giving the track a sharper edge. Though energetic, their interpretation sometimes sounds thin and tinny compared with other Andrew Loog Oldham-produced tracks, hinting at the limitations of early Stones recordings despite their undeniable enthusiasm.
From Thumb to Microphone
Hitchhiking itself—once a common, almost desperate form of travel—serves as a perfect allegory for the song’s yearning. Standing on the roadside, hoping a stranger will offer passage, mirrors the singer’s relentless pursuit of love, a theme both playful and poignant. By covering Hitch Hike, the Rolling Stones didn’t just pay homage to Gaye; they transformed a lighthearted R&B track into a vehicle for their own restless energy. The song’s legacy lies in this cross-pollination: Motown’s soulful charm meets the raw British invasion, creating a piece of music that’s both homage and reinvention, proof that even simple stories of longing and travel can gain new life when filtered through different musical eyes.
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