Pop Rock

The song “Bus Stop,” written by British songwriter and composer Graham Gouldman, was an international hit for The Hollies, going to #5 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart, #1 in Canada, #9 in Germany, #4 in The Netherlands, and #3 in Norway. “Bus Stop” is a sweet, romantic pop love song. The Hollies formed in 1962 in Manchester, Lancashire, England. There are different stories about how they chose their name, so it was either as a tribute to Buddy Holly or with this thoughts of holly at Christmastime. They originally were Allan Clarke, Graham Nash, Tony Hicks, and Erick Haydock. Nash left in 1968 to form the supergroup Crosby, Stills & Nash. (The term supergroup refers to the members coming from successful bands — i.e., The Byrds, Buffalo Spring, and The Hollies, respectively.) The Hollies were the second most successful group in Britain throughout the 1960s. As part of the British Invasion of the U.S., they took a while to become successful in America. “Bus Stop” was their breakthrough song. They had many hits, including “Just One Look,” “Stop Stop Stop,” Carrie Anne, “and “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother,” just to name a few.

Here are the lyrics for “Bus Stop” by The Hollies:

Bus stop, wet day, she’s there, I say
“Please share my umbrella”
Bus stop, bus goes, she stays, love grows
Under my umbrella

All that summer we enjoyed it
Wind and rain and shine
That umbrella, we employed it
By August, she was mine

Every mornin’, I would see her waiting at the stop
Sometimes she’d shopped and she would show me what she bought
Other people stared as if we were both quite insane
Someday my name and hers are going to be the same

That’s the way the whole thing started
Silly but it’s true
Thinkin’ of a sweet romance
Beginnin’ in a queue

Came the sun the ice was melting
No more sheltering now
Nice to think that, that umbrella
Led me to a vow

Every mornin’, I would see her waiting at the stop
Sometimes she’d shopped and she would show me what she bought
Other people stared as if we were both quite insane
Someday my name and hers are going to be the same
Please share my umbrella

Bus stop, wet day, she’s there, I say
“Please share my umbrella”
Bus stop, bus goes, she stays, love grows
Under my umbrella

All that summer we enjoyed it
Wind and rain and shine
That umbrella, we employed it
By August, she was mine

For other songs by The Hollies: “Stop! Stop! Stop!” and “Carrie-Anne.”

Check Out The Groove Pad for More 1960s Music

The Pass the Paisley Groove Pad is a resting stop, a place to chill out and listen to the featured song on the stereo. If the mood strikes you, click on the juke box to access and listen to the 40+ songs there. The TV has several channels, with selections updated twice a week. Every now and then, Pass the Paisley hosts an all-request of 1960s and 1970s songs for a Be-In at the juke box in the Groove Pad. Keep on truckin’. Hope you enjoyed “Bus Stop” by The Hollies.