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

Harold Brown of War

Harold Brown of WarSongwriter Interviews

A founding member of the band War, Harold gives a first-person account of one of the most important periods in music history.

Joan Armatrading

Joan ArmatradingSongwriter Interviews

The revered singer-songwriter talks inspiration and explains why she put a mahout in "Drop the Pilot."

80s Music Quiz 1

80s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

MTV, a popular TV theme song and Madonna all show up in this '80s music quiz.

Bryan Adams

Bryan AdamsSongwriter Interviews

What's the deal with "Summer of '69"? Bryan explains what the song is really about, and shares more of his songwriting insights.

Millie Jackson

Millie JacksonSongwriter Interviews

Outrageously gifted and just plain outrageous, Millie is an R&B and Rap innovator.

Annie Haslam of Renaissance

Annie Haslam of RenaissanceSongwriter Interviews

The 5-octave voice of the classical rock band Renaissance, Annie is big on creative expression. In this talk, she covers Roy Wood, the history of the band, and where all the money went in the '70s.