Introduction
“Ridin’ My Thumb to Mexico” has its roots as a classic country hit—originally written and recorded by Johnny Rodriguez and released in August 1973 as the first single from his album All I Ever Meant to Do Is Sing. The song soared to No. 1 on the U.S. country singles chart for two weeks and remained on the chart for a total of thirteen weeks. It even reached the top spot on Canada’s RPM Country Tracks chart .
Decades later, on his 2020 covers album Re‑Dunn, Ronnie Dunn included his rendition of “Ridin’ My Thumb to Mexico” as a nod to the songs that shaped his musical journey . Dunn recalled that during his college years in Abilene, Texas, he and his friends often played the song at local venues like VFW halls—making it an enduring part of his formative years as a performer .
In a broader sense, Re‑Dunn was born from a simple idea—a Spotify-inspired session to record a few classic rock songs—but evolved into a “passion project” encompassing 24 tracks that blended rock and country influences. It became a deeply personal playlist of songs Dunn had always loved, with “Ridin’ My Thumb to Mexico” among the standout country choices
Video
Lyrics
This old highway seems so lonesome
When you’re going where you’ve been
And a lonesome song can make you cry
Time and time again
By listenin’ to a friend of mine
Ten years ago today
I’d have a better job
Than what I’ve got today
But the billboards on the highway
And the brake lights on the cars
Make me jump out on the highway
With my bag and my guitar
If she comes or if she goes
It doesn’t matter anymore
Cause I’m ridin’ my thumb to Mexico
Ridin’ my thumb to Mexico
It don’t matter when or how I go
I’ll ride this thumb ’til I see her again
So I’m ridin’ my thumb to Mexico
Well, the reason why she left me’s
Not the reason that I’m here
I’m a travelin’ kind of man
Just need a change of atmosphere
If there’s any place I haven’t been
At all that’s where I’ll go
So I’m ridin’ my thumb to Mexico
Ridin’ my thumb to Mexico
It don’t matter when or how I go
I’ll ride this thumb ’til I see her again
So I’m ridin’ my thumb to Mexico