This song was first released on the spirit album. it is the only album it has been released on.
If your drivinĄŻ down the road and you come across an old man
holdinĄŻ out his thumb in the wind
his clothes are old and dirty and dirty that doesnĄŻt matter
itĄŻs his eyes that tell where heĄŻs been
if youĄŻre not afraid to take your chances on a stranger
he might have some company to lend
why donĄŻt you pull off to the side and let that old man have a ride
he can tell you all the crazy things heĄŻs seen
IĄŻm an old hitchhiker
the highway is the only home i know
where youĄŻre headed i donĄŻt mind
i ainĄŻt been there in some time
and itĄŻs just exactly where i want to go
I can tell you how i started in the circus as a barker
drawinĄŻ people in from far and wide
they never did regret the dollar that it cost ĄŽem
we always left ĄŽem feelinĄŻ good inside
we were headed for montana when we hired us a dancer
her beauty it was more than i can say
then one summer night she set my soul on fire
lord, i wish that she was here with me today
IĄŻm an old hitchhiker, i wonder whatĄŻs a waitinĄŻ ĄŽround the bend
i donĄŻt know what i might see and i donĄŻt need no guarantee
just a ride from here to there and back again
I was only seventeen when i took the open highway
took it for my teacher and a friend
iĄŻve been thirty years a-thumbinĄŻ
some might call it bumminĄŻ
but itĄŻs better than just cryinĄŻ in the wind
so if youĄŻre drivinĄŻ down the road and you come across an old man holdinĄŻ out his thumb in the rain
why donĄŻt you pull off to the side let the poor boy have a ride
he can tell you all the crazy things heĄŻs seen
IĄŻm an old hitchhiker lookinĄŻ to the far side of the hill
some people say iĄŻll settle down
build a home in some small town
but within my heart i know i never will
IĄŻm an old hitchhiker
Words by steve weisberg and john denver, music by steve weisberg