Country Music Hall of Famer Marty Stuart talks with songwriter Bill Danoff about his classic hometown song, "Take Me Home, Country Roads," as part of the Honor Your Hometown series.
I remember that when my stepson married and moved out of the house, he and his wife lived in Berkeley Springs West Virginia, and whenever I crossed the state line going to see them, I always started singing this song...
I was in Singapore visiting my wife’s extended family. It was her uncle’s 80th birthday and they gave him a big party at a place that had a private banquet room with a karaoke machine in it. Of course, being Singapore, it was almost all various Mandarin and Cantonese songs. I knew some of the melodies, but absolutely none of the words. All of a sudden, one of my wife’s cousins (who I’ve sworn eternal vengeance on), shoves the microphone in my hand because the only English song on the machine came on…..Country Roads. Now, I have a horrible singing voice, but even with that, the entire room, even the three or four older folks that spoke no English, are singing Country Roads at the top of their lungs. The song’s appeal is simply universal. And, for the record, I am a HUGE John Denver fan, so I “sang” to the room, not having to look at the screen.
Hi Bill! I, we, are so glad to be part of your lives. Lots of laughing in addition to some wonderful music and memories. Miss you both. Miss you all. xox
I was born in Morgantown, still live about 20 minutes from there. I remember one night, I was walking down Duvall street in Key West Florida about 2am, lots of people on the street and a band in one of the bars started playing Country roads. Everyone and I mean everyone on the street started singing along. Made me tear up a little.
BILL, AM FROM SCOTLAND ORIGINALLY. EMIGRATED TO NEW ZEALAND IN ‘68, AGE 15, ON MY OWN. IN ‘71 WHEN I FIRST HEARD TAKE ME HOME COUNTRY ROADS, I KNEW THE HOOK LINE ‘COUNTRY ROADS, TAKE ME HOME, TO THE PLACE I BELONG’! TOOK ME 30 YRS TO GO BACK HOME. IN 51 YRS THAT’S BEEN MY SONG. HOME IS WHERE MY HEART RESTS. BUT MY HOME IF MY BIRTH, THATS DIFFERENT, AND THAT’S WHAT YOU WROTE ABOUT. BILL, IT STILL LIVES IN 2023! THANKS, IF YOU EVER SEE THIS.
I was even singing with it when this played....and I AM in West Virginia...but lived in Washington, D.C. in 1970-1973 when John Denver and FAT CITY made this a hit.
I would have enjoyed finding out more about how the early lyrics were. I've read that the 4-syllable phrase West Virginia was originally Massachusetts. What were the lines that went with that? And his second verse, the back story of that house and who's dog was Poncho?
There's an entire story about how this happened (worth searching for it involves them getting into a car accident, JD broke his thumb, went back to Bill and Taffi's all adrenaline rush and they showed him what they had of this song.). The song was almost completed... JD added a line in a verse or so and the bridge if I remember correctly. So it was definitely a collab! 😊
I remember that when my stepson married and moved out of the house, he and his wife lived in Berkeley Springs West Virginia, and whenever I crossed the state line going to see them, I always started singing this song...
I was in Singapore visiting my wife’s extended family. It was her uncle’s 80th birthday and they gave him a big party at a place that had a private banquet room with a karaoke machine in it. Of course, being Singapore, it was almost all various Mandarin and Cantonese songs. I knew some of the melodies, but absolutely none of the words. All of a sudden, one of my wife’s cousins (who I’ve sworn eternal vengeance on), shoves the microphone in my hand because the only English song on the machine came on…..Country Roads. Now, I have a horrible singing voice, but even with that, the entire room, even the three or four older folks that spoke no English, are singing Country Roads at the top of their lungs. The song’s appeal is simply universal.
And, for the record, I am a HUGE John Denver fan, so I “sang” to the room, not having to look at the screen.
Hi Bill! I, we, are so glad to be part of your lives. Lots of laughing in addition to some wonderful music and memories. Miss you both. Miss you all. xox
I was born in Morgantown, still live about 20 minutes from there. I remember one night, I was walking down Duvall street in Key West Florida about 2am, lots of people on the street and a band in one of the bars started playing Country roads. Everyone and I mean everyone on the street started singing along. Made me tear up a little.
a good song means different things to different people.....and this does
One of the greatest songs ever
Thank you Bill. Your legacy in DC is written in stone. Your music with Taffy & John & Jon & Margot is written in our hearts.
Bill!!! Thank you ❤❤❤
BILL, AM FROM SCOTLAND ORIGINALLY. EMIGRATED TO NEW ZEALAND IN ‘68, AGE 15, ON MY OWN. IN ‘71 WHEN I FIRST HEARD TAKE ME HOME COUNTRY ROADS, I KNEW THE HOOK LINE ‘COUNTRY ROADS, TAKE ME HOME, TO THE PLACE I BELONG’! TOOK ME 30 YRS TO GO BACK HOME. IN 51 YRS THAT’S BEEN MY SONG. HOME IS WHERE MY HEART RESTS. BUT MY HOME IF MY BIRTH, THATS DIFFERENT, AND THAT’S WHAT YOU WROTE ABOUT. BILL, IT STILL LIVES IN 2023! THANKS, IF YOU EVER SEE THIS.
Bill was originally from Springfield MA. GOTTA LOVE THAT!!!!
Just a brilliant song
👍👍
I was even singing with it when this played....and I AM in West Virginia...but lived in Washington, D.C. in 1970-1973 when John Denver and FAT CITY made this a hit.
Whimsical nostalgia. Only deliverable by John Denver....who really made his own genre combining folk, bluegrass and country.
We all want to belong, even if we act like and say we don't.
I love his voice as it aged.
He voice is shot. I thought that was sad.
@@RA82828 so why even attempt to have him sing in this video? It is shot just like many "songwriters" of his generation.
@@kenblair6622 oh lord you nasty. Single? Divorced? 🤣😜
I would have enjoyed finding out more about how the early lyrics were. I've read that the 4-syllable phrase West Virginia was originally Massachusetts. What were the lines that went with that? And his second verse, the back story of that house and who's dog was Poncho?
See "The House on Poppy Hill" for the Japanese take on this song. Fascinating...
What a great guy Bill is.. ty for sharing. I remember reading the John only wrote one line for that song.. anybody know which like it was?
There's an entire story about how this happened (worth searching for it involves them getting into a car accident, JD broke his thumb, went back to Bill and Taffi's all adrenaline rush and they showed him what they had of this song.). The song was almost completed... JD added a line in a verse or so and the bridge if I remember correctly. So it was definitely a collab! 😊