Magic Bus

Album: Magic Bus (1968)
Charted: 25 26
Play Video
  • Every day I get in the queue (too much, Magic Bus)
    To get on the bus that takes me to you (too much, Magic Bus)
    I'm so nervous, I just sit and smile (too much, Magic Bus)
    You house is only another mile (too much, Magic Bus)

    Thank you, driver, for getting me here (too much, Magic Bus)
    You'll be an inspector, have no fear (too much, Magic Bus)
    I don't want to cause no fuss (too much, Magic Bus)
    But can I buy your Magic Bus? (too much, Magic Bus)

    (No)

    I don't care how much I pay (too much, Magic Bus)
    I want to drive my bus to my baby each day (too much, Magic Bus)

    I want it, I want it, I want it, I want it (you can't have it)
    Thruppence and sixpence every day
    Just to drive to my baby
    Thruppence and sixpence each day
    'Cause I drive my baby every way

    Magic bus, Magic Bus, Magic Bus
    Magic bus, Magic Bus, Magic Bus
    Magic bus, Magic Bus, Magic Bus
    Magic bus, Magic Bus, Magic Bus

    I said, now I've got my Magic Bus (too much, Magic Bus)
    I said, now I've got my Magic Bus (too much, Magic Bus)
    I drive my baby every way (too much, Magic Bus)
    Each time I go a different way (too much, Magic Bus)

    I want it, I want it, I want it, I want it
    I want it, I want it, I want it, I want it

    Every day you'll see the dust (too much, Magic Bus)
    As I drive my baby in my Magic Bus (too much, Magic Bus) Writer/s: Peter Townshend
    Publisher: T.R.O. INC.
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 23

  • Kozmo from PennsylvaniaIt's about a bus ride to the whorehouse. Men used to get visually inspected before being able to get in. Now the lyrics make sense. Listen again.
  • Marko from Brandon FloridaThe song is about an acid trip.
  • Major from ArkansasTruly 1 of The Who's & Classic Rockz songs !
  • Major from ArkansasY'all's site is nothing short of 'DOWN TOWN'...U-Tube might wanna tighten ~ up !
  • Philip from Waterdown, OnAfter Moonie died they never played it live again.
  • Joseph from Champaign, IlWiki claims the song was written in 1965 and first recorded in 1968. Madeline's suggestion that it refers to a form of LSD seems consistent with the lyrics. As to which came first, the lyric or the drug, it is difficult to tell.

    But, during the late 60's and early 70's, there was a bus called The Magic Bus that travelled from Amsterdam to Kabul, Afghanistan. The cost was absurdly low compared to today-something around $50. Of course, is was adorned with psychedellic images and, perhaps a statement of the obvious, quite a trip! But, like the name of the brand of LSD, the name of the bus probably came from the song. Only Mr. Townshend knows for sure.
  • Gerald from Vienna, AustriaI remember I had a single with a foreign language cover version of Magic Bus when I was a kid. Unfortunately it was a white label copy, so I never knew who's version it was.
    Can't even tell the language. The chorus sounded something like "eco eco cooba-eh, cooba oh coooba-eh".
    Any idea whose version that might have been?
  • Animal54mt from Abbotsford, BcListen to a lot of who songs. Their songs are often about simple things. This song is what it is. No underlying references, just a kid in love. And the bus he rides.
  • Guitorb from Warsaw, InThe Bo Diddly rhythm is compelling when played by Pete on his Gibson J200. Though I would have preferred to hear Moon playing his kit rather than the clave and bongos.
  • Ben from Baltimore, MdThis song is most likely about Ken Kesey's LSD touring bus. He traveled the country in the 60s promoting the drug LSD. The Who only took LSD once, however.
  • Chloe from St. Louis, Moam i hallucinating, or does this sound exactly like "my generation"?
  • Jo from Strong City, Algeriayes and no, ur all right but listen to the song and it says "i smoke 6 bunts a day" But if u listen closer it just doent say magic busa all the time it says magic dust some times.

    so he wants hes bus and dust which was LSD,cocaine.and thats how he trick the govern.
  • Madeline from Grass Valley, CaI am not sure how old any of you are, but Magic Bus was a type of LSD in the early 70s. It has nothing to do with an actual "hippie bus".
  • Jessica from Jamaica, Nythis song is about the rising cost of drugs the term "magic bus" is the high u get off drugs
  • Heather from Los Angeles, CaWell, as usual with The Who it's not the lyrics, it's definitely the arrangement. I think most Who lyrics are pretty lame. It's the instrumental that's so compelling.
  • Kiyoto from Vancouver, Canadacraig why don't u shut up. i think this is a great who song, even if the lyrics are weird. the live at leeds version is really cool. u can hear how they fool around with themselves onstage when pete says "ok you can buy the magic bus for one hundred!... (and u expect it to be 100 bucks but)...english pounds" thought it was funny.
  • Rory from Charlotte, NcThis song was featured in the 1990 Martin Scorsese film "GoodFellas".
  • Jack from Riverside, Ca8 minutes us nothing. When the did Long Beach, CA in '71 they stretched it out to over 15 minutes.
  • Robert from Cambridge, NyStupid lyrics, however, this is still a great song. John Entwistle wasn't too keen on playing this live because "it's 8 minutes of A".
  • Wayne from Edgewater, MiAfter much airplay, the song was eventually banned on Baltimore radio when rumors circulated that Magic Bus was a drug reference.
  • P J from Okc, OkThe song is about a hippy bus that they do all kinds of different things in! That's what the sixties were all about! And they sure didn't want to sell it!
  • Johnny from Los Angeles, CaI wanna listen to that 8 minute version!
  • Ron from Bentonville, ArI had a 1974 VW bus, bright orange, when I was a newlywed in 1983. Of course, we called it "The Magic Bus!"
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Gary Lewis

Gary LewisSongwriter Interviews

Gary Lewis and the Playboys had seven Top 10 hits despite competition from The Beatles. Gary talks about the hits, his famous father, and getting drafted.

Jack Tempchin - "Peaceful Easy Feeling"

Jack Tempchin - "Peaceful Easy Feeling"They're Playing My Song

When a waitress wouldn't take him home, Jack wrote what would become one of the Eagles most enduring hits.

Keith Reid of Procol Harum

Keith Reid of Procol HarumSongwriter Interviews

As Procol Harum's lyricist, Keith wrote the words to "A Whiter Shade Of Pale." We delve into that song and find out how you can form a band when you don't sing or play an instrument.

Richie Wise (Kiss producer, Dust)

Richie Wise (Kiss producer, Dust)Songwriter Interviews

Richie talks about producing the first two Kiss albums, recording "Brother Louie," and the newfound appreciation of his rock band, Dust.

Donald Fagen

Donald FagenSongwriter Interviews

Fagen talks about how the Steely Dan songwriting strategy has changed over the years, and explains why you don't hear many covers of their songs.

Don Dokken

Don DokkenSongwriter Interviews

Dokken frontman Don Dokken explains what broke up the band at the height of their success in the late '80s, and talks about the botched surgery that paralyzed his right arm.