Hitchhiker / Autostoppista
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 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, 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 the 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
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
* * * *
Non avevo i soldi
Poi arrivò la paranoia, mi seguiva ovunque andavo
Vivere in campagna mi sembrava una buona idea
Fumare erba mentre l'estate passava
In un vero ambiente naturale[1] dove ogni cosa era verde
E la mia testa esplose sul serio
La mia testa esplose sul serio
Pensavo di essere un Azteco o un corridore in Perù
Potevo costruire splendidi palazzi per ospitare i pochi eletti
Come un Inca del Perù
Molti anni sono venuti e andati, e così amici e nemici
Ho provato a lasciarmi alle spalle il passato ma mi sta raggiungendo
Mi sta raggiungendo
Non so come posso esser qui a vivere la mia vita
Sono grato dei miei figli e della mia fedele moglie
[1] “Organic” significa “biologico”, “naturale” (si usa spesso nel contesto agricolo).
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
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 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 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 the real organic scene where everything was green
Then 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
* * * *
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 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, 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 the 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
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
* * * *
Quando facevo l’autostoppista per strada dovevo contare su di te
Ma tu avevi bisogno di me per alleggerire il peso e anche per chiacchierare
Altrimenti non avresti tirato dritto?
Non mi hai visto a Toronto quando provai l'hashish la prima volta
La fumai attraverso una penna e l'avrei rifatto ma non avevo i soldiNon avevo i soldi
Poi provai l'anfetamina e sentii la testa come dentro una palla di vetro
Infilata tra i fili del contachilometri nel cruscotto della mia Buick '48
Ma sapevo che non sarebbe durata
Poi arrivò la California dove per la prima volta vidi il mare aperto
Nella terra delle opportunità sapevo che stavo iniziando a scottare
Sapevo che stavo iniziando a scottare
Ma le luci al neon e le notti senza fine mi presero alla sprovvista
Il dottore mi diede il valium ma non riuscivo ancora a chiudere gli occhi
Non riuscivo ancora a chiudere gli occhi
Non potevo firmare autografi o apparire in TV
O vedere o essere visto
Fumare erba mentre l'estate passava
In un vero ambiente naturale[1] dove ogni cosa era verde
Poi avemmo un bambino e ci allontanammo, io vivevo in tour
Un pizzico di cocaina era perfetto per scaricare quest’altro pesoE la mia testa esplose sul serio
La mia testa esplose sul serio
Pensavo di essere un Azteco o un corridore in Perù
Potevo costruire splendidi palazzi per ospitare i pochi eletti
Come un Inca del Perù
Molti anni sono venuti e andati, e così amici e nemici
Ho provato a lasciarmi alle spalle il passato ma mi sta raggiungendo
Mi sta raggiungendo
Non so come posso esser qui a vivere la mia vita
Sono grato dei miei figli e della mia fedele moglie
[1] “Organic” significa “biologico”, “naturale” (si usa spesso nel contesto agricolo).
-------------------------------
LYRIC DIFFERENTE
Versione originale 1975
[fonte: Hitchhiker]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
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 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 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 the real organic scene where everything was green
Then 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
* * * *
Quando facevo l’autostoppista per strada dovevo contare su di te
Ma tu avevi bisogno di me per alleggerire il peso e anche per chiacchierare
Altrimenti non avresti tirato dritto?
Non mi hai visto a Toronto quando provai l'hashish la prima volta
La fumai attraverso una penna e l'avrei rifatto se solo avessi avuto qualche soldo
Se solo avessi avuto qualche soldo
Poi provai l'anfetamina e sentii la testa come dentro una palla di vetro
Infilata tra i fili del contachilometri nel cruscotto della mia Buick '48
Ma sapevo che non sarebbe durata
Poi arrivò la California dove per la prima volta vidi il mare aperto
Nella terra delle opportunità sapevo che stavo iniziando a scottare
Sapevo che stavo iniziando a scottare
Ma le luci al neon e le notti senza fine mi presero alla sprovvista
Il dottore mi diede il valium ma non riuscivo ancora a chiudere gli occhi
Non riuscivo ancora a chiudere gli occhi
Poi giunse la paranoia, mi seguiva ovunque andavo
Non potevo firmare autografi o apparire in TV
O vedere o essere visto
Vivere in campagna mi sembrava una buona idea
Fumavo erba con la mia ragazza di Chicago
In un vero ambiente naturale dove ogni cosa era verde
Poi avemmo un bambino e ci allontanammo, ora io vivo in tour
E un pizzico di cocaina è perfetto per scaricare quest’altro peso
Ma non è tutto qui quello che conosco
Vorrei essere un Azteco o un corridore in Perù
Costruirei splendidi palazzi per ospitare i pochi eletti
Come un Inca del Perù