"Hitchin' a Ride" begins with a violin introduction reminiscent of the Jewish Klezmer style and then leads into a distinct 4 note bass guitar riff that carries on throughout the song. Listeners may hear a slight change in lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong's usual voice tone that he claims was adopted merely for the purpose of the song. The walking tempo to "Hitchin' a Ride" is interrupted in the middle by the heavier bridge featuring the trademark distortion and general loud noise similar to many Green Day songs.