The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
I think I'm gonna be sad
I think it's today, yeah
The girl that's driving me mad
Is going away
She's got a ticket to ride
She's got a ticket to ride
She's got a ticket to ride
And she don't care
She said that living with me
Was bringing her down yeah
For she would never be free
When I was around
She's got a ticket to ride
She's got a ticket to ride
She's got a ticket to ride
But she don't care
I don't know why she's ridin' so high
She ought to think twice
She ought to do right by me
Before she gets to saying goodbye
She ought to think twice
She ought to do right by me
I think I'm gonna be sad
I think it's today yeah
The girl that's driving me mad
Is going away, yeah
Ah, she's got a ticket to ride
She's got a ticket to ride
She's got a ticket to ride
But she don't care
I don't know why she's ridin' so high
She ought to think twice
She ought to do right by me
Before she gets to saying goodbye
She ought to think twice
She ought to do right by me
She said that living with me
Was bringing her down, yeah
For she would never be free
When I was around
Ah, she's got a ticket to ride
She's got a ticket to ride
She's got a ticket to ride
But she don't care
My baby don't care, my baby don't care
My baby don't care, my baby don't care
My baby don't care, my baby don't care
I think it's today, yeah
The girl that's driving me mad
Is going away
She's got a ticket to ride
She's got a ticket to ride
She's got a ticket to ride
And she don't care
She said that living with me
Was bringing her down yeah
For she would never be free
When I was around
She's got a ticket to ride
She's got a ticket to ride
She's got a ticket to ride
But she don't care
I don't know why she's ridin' so high
She ought to think twice
She ought to do right by me
Before she gets to saying goodbye
She ought to think twice
She ought to do right by me
I think I'm gonna be sad
I think it's today yeah
The girl that's driving me mad
Is going away, yeah
Ah, she's got a ticket to ride
She's got a ticket to ride
She's got a ticket to ride
But she don't care
I don't know why she's ridin' so high
She ought to think twice
She ought to do right by me
Before she gets to saying goodbye
She ought to think twice
She ought to do right by me
She said that living with me
Was bringing her down, yeah
For she would never be free
When I was around
Ah, she's got a ticket to ride
She's got a ticket to ride
She's got a ticket to ride
But she don't care
My baby don't care, my baby don't care
My baby don't care, my baby don't care
My baby don't care, my baby don't care
Lyrics submitted by Ice, edited by Mellow_Harsher
Ticket To Ride Lyrics as written by Paul Mccartney John Lennon
Lyrics © Roba Music Verlag GMBH, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, O/B/O DistroKid, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
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I think the lyrics of this song are pretty self-explanatory. The woman that a guy is madly in love with is leaving him. This is one of my most favorite Beatles songs, if not the most, mainly because I can relate to it. I fell in love with my best friend a while back, and he eventually found out. It was sad, mainly because I had always envisioned that moment to be just right, but it hadn't been. Instead, our friendship has become awkward, especially when we discuss our attractions to other people. I feel like a part of him has left me, because as they say in the song "for she [he in this case] would never be free when I was around"
A lot of you are on the right track. I know what this song is about as I saw it on a documentary of The Beatles. The song was actually called Ticket to Rye. But when the Beatles came over to the states, the music label they were under made them change the title to Ticket To Ride. Why you ask? Because Rye was a city in the UK where a woman could get an abortion. Listen to the song, and you will see what the song is about. The man wants the woman to get an abortion but "she don't care."
She said that living with me, Is bringing her down yeh, For she would never be free when I was around. She’s got a ticket to Rye, She’s got a ticket to Ryeeee, She’s got a ticket to Rye, but she don’t care. I don’t know why she’s riding so high, She ought to think twice, She ought to do right by me. I think I’m gonna be sad, I think it’s today, yeh, The girl that’s driving me mad, Is going away. She’s got a ticket to Rye, She’s got a ticket to Ryeeee, She’s got a ticket to Rye, but she don’t care.
And for those who think that it went from Rye to Ride as a translation mistake... No... But here is the definitive answer to the questions. Good day.
I always there was something more to this, I thought it was an interesting title as it could be changed to many things without disrupting the song. So there must be some significance, and if Rye was a place where a girl could get an abortion then maybe he is upset that she is going to get it done and "she don't care" what he feels. the line "She ought to do right by me." makes so much sense then.<br /> <br /> If this is not the case, what the yell does ticket to ride mean. On the prostitution angle, what does she not care about.
Actually:<br /> According to A Hard Day's Write by Steve Turner, many Americans concluded the "ticket" was from British Railways, and "ride" was the town of Ryde on the Isle of Wight. McCartney confessed to his biographer Barry Miles that they were partly right. Paul had a cousin who ran a bar in Ryde and he and John had visited them there. Paul later mentioned that although the song was primarily about a girl riding out of the life of the narrator, they were conscious of the potential for a double meaning.
@guybrush22 bwahaha! totals wrong ...<br />
the beatles were/are/will always be amazing
and this song is pretty straightforward, i think, rite? i mean, the girl is leaving him, yeah?
whether its Rye or Ride isnt the meaning the same? lol
It is definitely RYE....listen to it you will not hear a "d" nor a "t". just RYE. have a good one, dudes(and dudettes)
Can't believe there aren't more posts on this song (as of this writing anyway). The Beatles had so many great ones but sometimes I feel that this was far and away their best moment. Maybe it's just as Rockenpnay said, I can relate to the lyrics. It's probably a univesal feeling for anyone that's had someone them break up with them unless you feel that they were totally out of your league anyway. I especially relate to the line that says "I don’t know why she’s riding so high, She ought to do right by me." That poignant lyric combined with the uptempo melody makes for one of the best songs for an aching heart. And that's exactly what I'm going through right now.
This is just about when someone you want to be around has better things to do than hang around with you. It's simply about a girl who has better things to do than be with John Lennon. Seems hard to believe, but some chicks have a lot going on!
not that i think that is what the song is about, but lennon was inspired to write this while touring in holland where before one could legally prostitute themselves they had to be cleared medically...the documentation verifying one's medical clearance was known as a "ticket to ride"
One time I bought a ticket to ride the bus. I went to the fair and drank some cider. That was a good day.
one of ringos best drums
Well if you really listen it sounds like they are saying 'Rye' not 'Ride.'
and what does rye have to do with the song? are you a pot head or something?