Trippin' down the Freeway

From Weezerpedia
"Trippin' Down the Freeway"
Trippin' Down the Freeway cover
Album track by Weezer
Album Raditude
Released November 3, 2009
Length 3:40
Label Geffen
Writer(s) Rivers Cuomo
Producer(s) Jacknife Lee
Status officially released
Live debut June 4, 2009
Stream Spotify
Apple Music
Weezer singles chronology
"Represent"
(2010)
"Trippin' down the Freeway"
(2010)
"Memories"
(2010)
Raditude track listing
"Put Me Back Together"
(05)
"Trippin' Down the Freeway"
(06)
"Love is the Answer"
(07)
Alternate Cover
Digital single cover
Digital single cover

"Trippin' down the Freeway" (sometimes rendered as "Tripping down the Freeway") is the sixth track and third single on Raditude.

Appearances

  • Raditude (2009)
  • ”Tripping Down the Freeway” digital-45 single (iTunes Canada only)

Overview

This song was confirmed to be on Raditude by Rivers Cuomo on August 21, 2009 in an interview with Billboard magazine. Patrick Wilson, the band's drummer and sometimes guitarist, plays the guitar solo on this song. The song is notable for more closely resembling the "classic" Weezer style on the otherwise more pop-oriented Raditude. The song is one of only two on the album credited solely to Cuomo.

The origin of the name "Shirley Applebee" (or Appleby) is not known to have been commented on officially. Though Cuomo pronounces the name as "Shirley" on the album and during live performances, some postulate that the lyric is intended to refer to actress Shiri Appleby. Following the release of the song, Appleby commented on Twitter: "i'm beyond flattered. thank you weezer..." [1]

Around the time of release, Wilson named the song as a recent favorite in the band's catalog, and was known to have, along with Karl Koch, pushed for the song to be a single.

In the summer of 2010, the song was released as Raditude's third single. After only four weeks of minor chart success, the song was pulled from radio in favor of the single "Memories" and Weezer's next album Hurley.

Weezer, when performing the song live at Bonaroo in 2010, were accompanied by YouTube musician Julia Nunes, who had previously covered the Weezer song "Keep Fishin'". A video of the band rehearsing with Nunes was released as Weezer Webisode #18 [2].

Rich Costey did a promotional piece for HP around the release of Raditude, speaking about the mixing of the song.

Band Commentary

Rivers: "Tripping Down the Freeway" I wrote like right after I wrote "Pork and Beans". It just sounds like a classic Weezer song. Actually it may sound similar to "Pork and Beans" 'cause it was written right at the same time. I don't know.

Live performances

Personnel

Audio

This stream is viewable only in North America.

This stream is viewable outside of North America.

Lyrics

I told you that you had put on some weight
You went out with somebody named Kevin Greene
You preferred to go to a volleyball game
I told you that you couldn't be more lame

But no way, we ain't gonna break up
We made a promise and our will won't fade out
Not just in '08 and '09
We'll be together from now until the end of time
You've got the Shirley Applebee look
I'm totally caught up on your hook
You know that we are gonna be okay
We'll stick together as we're trippin' down the freeway

You withheld the physical love I need
I said, "Hey, then I'm gonna play the field"
You broke down and told me you loved me true
I said, "Girl, I got to be with you"

No way, we ain't gonna break up
We made a promise and our will won't fade out
Not just in '09 and '010
We'll be together from now until the very end
You've got the Shirley Applebee look
I'm totally caught up on your hook
You know that we are gonna be okay
We'll stick together as we're trippin' down the freeway

No way, we ain't gonna break up
We made a promise and our will won't fade out
Not just in ‘010 and ‘011
We'll be together from now until we're up in heaven
You got the Shirley Applebee look
I'm totally caught up on your hook
You know that we are gonna be okay
We'll stick together as we're trippin' down the freeway

Trippin' down the freeway, trippin' down the freeway
Trippin' down the freeway, trippin' down the freeway
Trippin' down the freeway, trippin' down the freeway
Trippin' down the freeway

Known recordings

Performer(s) Title Filename Date of recording Recording location Length Appeared on Notes
Rivers Cuomo Trippin' down the Freeway Trippin' Down The Freeway. no voc.mp3 20072008 3:40 Alone X: The Red-Raditude-Hurley Years Instrumental
Rivers Cuomo Trippin' down the Freeway Trippin' Down The Freeway.bgv.mp3 20072008 0:29 Alone X: The Red-Raditude-Hurley Years Chorus vocals only
Rivers Cuomo Trippin' down the Freeway Trippin' Down The Freeway.guide voca.mp3 20072008 3:40 Alone X: The Red-Raditude-Hurley Years
Weezer Trippin' down the Freeway 20082009 3:41 Leaked online Jacknife Lee mix
Weezer Trippin' down the Freeway 20082009 3:40 Raditude
about this table

See also