We're Going On A Tuppenny Bus Ride

Album: A Taste of Honey (1968)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Part novelty song, part silly love ballad, complete with stomach churning child chorus, "...Tuppenny Bus Ride" was recorded in 1968 by Anita Harris. Backed by "Artie" it was her 11th single release, her fourth on CBS, and her second of the year.
  • Written by Andrew McMaster, this song is a testament to the stark reality of inflation. Although special tickets were available - including off-peak savers - in January 2007, four decades on, London was said to have the most expensive transport system in the world, and a "single zone" bus journey was £2. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England, for above 2

Comments: 2

  • John Rj from Lytham St AnnesThinking back to songs from my early childhood, this was one of them. I don't remember the cost of travelling by bus at this age (under ten) but the cost of travel in the UK is generally unacceptable. I started travelling a lot by train in the late 1970s up to the mid 1990s (before privatisation took over), but now it simply isn't worth it at the price. I would rather drive most of the way and get a train (less than the cost of parking my car) to wherever I am going. Birmingham for example - park at The Hawthorns for free and get a ticket into the city Centre or a Daytripper ticket for use on busses, trams and trains locally. This is about the only time I use public transport. Travelling all the way by train is too costly. Buses are for more short-term journeys and I use them occasionally when it is needed than out of choice.
  • The Bash from Rubery RadioJust discovered this delightful little ditty, I have a feeling I will be playing it on my show on her Birthday June 3rd Rubery Radio Thursdays 4-8pm
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Jon Oliva of Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Jon Oliva of Trans-Siberian OrchestraSongwriter Interviews

Writing great prog metal isn't easy, especially when it's for 60 musicians.

70s Music Quiz 1

70s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

The '70s gave us Muppets, disco and Van Halen, all which show up in this groovy quiz.

Colbie Caillat

Colbie CaillatSongwriter Interviews

Since emerging from MySpace with her hit "Bubbly," Colbie has become a top songwriter, even crafting a hit with Taylor Swift.

Peter Lord

Peter LordSongwriter Interviews

You may not recognize his name, but you will certainly recognize Peter Lord's songs. He wrote the bevy of hits from Paula Abdul's second album, Spellbound.

Concert Disasters

Concert DisastersFact or Fiction

Ozzy biting a dove? Alice Cooper causing mayhem with a chicken? Creed so bad they were sued? See if you can spot the real concert mishaps.

Al Jourgensen of Ministry

Al Jourgensen of MinistrySongwriter Interviews

In the name of song explanation, Al talks about scoring heroin for William Burroughs, and that's not even the most shocking story in this one.