The Hiking Song

Album: All Good Stuff, Lady! (1938)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • There have been quite a few hiking songs, but probably none as risqué as this. In many ways it's a typical Miller ditty, and although half a century and more on it seems quite tame, it was about as far as a performer could go in the British theatre at the time without being banned. The first verse has two teens going out hiking, and when they return they are wearing each others' shorts.
  • A spokesman for the Max Miller Appreciation Society told Songfacts that Miller wrote the song himself and recorded it on three different occasions, each time with other material:

    Live at the Holborn Empire on October 7, 1938.

    Live with the Forces on November 1, 1940.

    Live at the Black Lion, Brighton (Miller's home town) on June 1, 1961.

    The first two were released on the HMV label, the third on Pye. The song was published in The Max Miller Blue Book, which was compiled by Barry Took in 1975. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England, for above 2

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

AC/DC

AC/DCFact or Fiction

Does Angus really drink himself silly? Did their name come from a sewing machine? See if you can spot the real stories about AC/DC.

Rickie Lee Jones

Rickie Lee JonesSongwriter Interviews

Rickie Lee Jones on songwriting, social media, and how she's handling Trump.

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many Songs

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many SongsSong Writing

For songwriters, Johnny represents the American man. He has been angry, cool, magic, a rebel and, of course, marching home.

Grunge Bands Quiz

Grunge Bands QuizMusic Quiz

If the name Citizen Dick means anything to you, there's a chance you'll get some of these right.

Kerry Livgren of Kansas

Kerry Livgren of KansasSongwriter Interviews

In this talk from the '80s, the Kansas frontman talks turning to God and writing "Dust In The Wind."

Songs Discussed in Movies

Songs Discussed in MoviesSong Writing

Bridesmaids, Reservoir Dogs, Willy Wonka - just a few of the flicks where characters discuss specific songs, sometimes as a prelude to murder.