Country Roads is a very special song for me too. I grew up in southwest Pennsylvania, mostly in Pittsburgh, but my beloved grandparents lived further south in the country, just a spit away from West Virginia and with its own tall hills. I LOVE those mountains, I yearn for them. Driving down the road, I sometimes get the feeling that I should have been “home” yesterday.
My grandparents had a bit of a twang to their speech, and Pap-Pap was a coal miner, and they qualified as hillbillies I suppose, but the good kind. So yeah, my memories of the mountains and the country and my family are of an Almost Heaven.
I just remember on all our family trips my father forcing us to listen to country music. Back when it was my dog died, my wife left and my pickup truck won’t start. Then he’d talk non stop about Australia where he was stationed after the war.
That's great. Happy Fourth, Josh and everyone. As I think about America, my home of nearly 30 years, I recall the lines by my musical idol and fellow immigrant, Leonard Cohen (happy belated Canada day to his compatriots on here). A line from the song "Democracy" (I know, it's actually 2 lines, Josh) goes, "I'm sentimental, if you know what I mean/ I love the country, but I can't stand the scene." Two more lines from a short poem of his," {O]h, and one more thing/You won't like what comes after America." Sometimes those of us who have an outsider's perspective, value and appreciate what America stands for more.
Totally. Country Roads is imbued with that elusive and intangible spirit sometimes called the Old Weird America, or what I call Blue Jeans and Rock and Roll America. It’s the alternate universe where baseball is still the national pastime, and curiously transcends wooden bat and leather ball just as blue jeans do sturdy cotton twill fabric. It’s not all sweetness and light; there’s an unknowable wildness there. It can be found in upstate New York, the Gulf Coast, Topanga Canyon…
…and the Virginias, West and otherwise. It can be usefully repurposed for lots of locales in the general region! An example would be Northern Virginia…Soccer Mama…take me home…i-66.
I totally want the spirit of quirkiness and freedom back. People actually found a home in America because they were too "weird" or ambitious for the place in which they were born. I felt a bit of it in Nashville last year, and, for a regular dose, I go to the Johnny Cash Show clips on YouTube.
I heard and saw John Denver sing this live in concert at the L.A. Forum in 1975. Wow, what a performer he was! The place was packed, and everybody had a great time. No politics, just music and fun. Hard to believe most things used to be that way.
Awwww, what a sweet memory indeed with your mom.
Country Roads is a very special song for me too. I grew up in southwest Pennsylvania, mostly in Pittsburgh, but my beloved grandparents lived further south in the country, just a spit away from West Virginia and with its own tall hills. I LOVE those mountains, I yearn for them. Driving down the road, I sometimes get the feeling that I should have been “home” yesterday.
My grandparents had a bit of a twang to their speech, and Pap-Pap was a coal miner, and they qualified as hillbillies I suppose, but the good kind. So yeah, my memories of the mountains and the country and my family are of an Almost Heaven.
Shout out to Pittsburgh! That's where I live. Also, an ONJ fan!!!
Great song, but this is sacrilege! John Denver all the way! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vrEljMfXYo
With that said, I agree wholeheartedly with your sentiment that this song really does convey something wonderful about our country.
I just remember on all our family trips my father forcing us to listen to country music. Back when it was my dog died, my wife left and my pickup truck won’t start. Then he’d talk non stop about Australia where he was stationed after the war.
That's great. Happy Fourth, Josh and everyone. As I think about America, my home of nearly 30 years, I recall the lines by my musical idol and fellow immigrant, Leonard Cohen (happy belated Canada day to his compatriots on here). A line from the song "Democracy" (I know, it's actually 2 lines, Josh) goes, "I'm sentimental, if you know what I mean/ I love the country, but I can't stand the scene." Two more lines from a short poem of his," {O]h, and one more thing/You won't like what comes after America." Sometimes those of us who have an outsider's perspective, value and appreciate what America stands for more.
John Denver evokes that sweet pain for me but thank you for sharing this one. I’d never heard it! And I do like it
Thank you Josh. I grew listening to John Denver and ONJ but never heard her version before. How lovely.
Totally. Country Roads is imbued with that elusive and intangible spirit sometimes called the Old Weird America, or what I call Blue Jeans and Rock and Roll America. It’s the alternate universe where baseball is still the national pastime, and curiously transcends wooden bat and leather ball just as blue jeans do sturdy cotton twill fabric. It’s not all sweetness and light; there’s an unknowable wildness there. It can be found in upstate New York, the Gulf Coast, Topanga Canyon…
…and the Virginias, West and otherwise. It can be usefully repurposed for lots of locales in the general region! An example would be Northern Virginia…Soccer Mama…take me home…i-66.
I totally want the spirit of quirkiness and freedom back. People actually found a home in America because they were too "weird" or ambitious for the place in which they were born. I felt a bit of it in Nashville last year, and, for a regular dose, I go to the Johnny Cash Show clips on YouTube.
I heard and saw John Denver sing this live in concert at the L.A. Forum in 1975. Wow, what a performer he was! The place was packed, and everybody had a great time. No politics, just music and fun. Hard to believe most things used to be that way.
Nice experience to have with your dad. I was 21, hanging with my girlfriend.