My White Bicycle

Album: Greatest Hits (1975)
Charted: 14
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The song was inspired by the Dutch underground white bicycle project, which was started by the leader of the Dutch provo group Luud Schimmelpennink in 1964. Schimmelpennink and his colleagues collected together several hundred bikes, painted them white then left them around Amsterdam unchained for communal use by anyone who needed the ride.
  • This was originally recorded by the UK band Tomorrow in 1967 as a psychedelic record with plenty of backwards tape and phasing effects. Though it failed to chart, it is recognized as one of the more innovative tracks of the period. Future Yes guitarist Steve Howe played on this and the vocalist was Keith West, who the following year had a big solo hit with "Excerpt From a Teenage Opera." In 1975 Scottish rock group Nazareth's cover bought them their fourth out of 5 UK Top 20 hits. Their other hits were "Broken Down Angel," "Bad Bad Boy," "This Flight Tonight" and "Love Hurts." The latter was their sole hit in America. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Edward Pearce - Ashford, Kent, England, for above 2

Comments: 2

  • G from Potomac, MdThis is about Albert Hoffman probably and that fateful day in 1942. Look up "albert hoffman" + bicycle on your favorite search engine...
  • Larry from Jackson, NjI am a big fan of Nazareth, but i hate this song.
    i see them live all the time, and they always play my white bicycle..i dont know why,,its not a jamming song, and nazareth is a jamming hard rock band.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Prince

PrinceFact or Fiction

Prince is shrouded in mystery, making him an excellent candidate for Fact or Fiction. Is he really a Scientologist? Does he own an exotic animal?

Alan Merrill of The Arrows

Alan Merrill of The ArrowsSongwriter Interviews

In her days with The Runaways, Joan Jett saw The Arrows perform "I Love Rock And Roll," which Alan Merrill co-wrote - that story and much more from this glam rock pioneer.

Van Dyke Parks

Van Dyke ParksSongwriter Interviews

U2, Carly Simon, Joanna Newsom, Brian Wilson and Fiona Apple have all gone to Van Dyke Parks to make their songs exceptional.

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside Story

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside StorySong Writing

The in-depth discussion about the making of Jesus Christ Superstar with Ted Neeley, who played Jesus in the 1973 film.

Amy Grant

Amy GrantSongwriter Interviews

The top Contemporary Christian artist of all time on song inspirations and what she learned from Johnny Carson.

Janis Ian: Married in London, but not in New York

Janis Ian: Married in London, but not in New YorkSong Writing

Can you be married in one country but not another? Only if you're part of a gay couple. One of the first famous singers to come out as a lesbian, Janis wrote a song about it.