I’m posting a song below, and I’ll bet in less than 1 minute, most of you will hear a mistake… a HUGE mistake in my opinion!
When I heard it, I was very surprised, I’m not a super picky person, but I do think this very popular singing group should have been told at some point that the lyrics were WRONG.
I checked their official music video on YouTube. Home Free has almost 2 million followers and their video “Take Me Home” has more than 6 million views. Couldn’t someone have told them? Couldn’t someone have Googled the lyrics before filming? I scanned the comments under the YouTube video to see if anyone called them out. There were LOTS of comments from people who live in West Virginia or had lived there at one time – there were also LOTS of comments from people saying how proud John Denver would be if he’d heard their version, and LOTS of people saying that they were big John Denver fans and this was their favorite song.
I didn’t have time to read ALL of the comments, but I sure expected to see something. We all know how happy ‘internet trolls’ are to point out things that are wrong and make people mad….but there was nothing…….. NOTHING! Are you kidding me? This is the state song of West Virginia and nobody said anything? Are we all going to learn the wrong lyrics and assume that West Virginia ‘blows’? Well, with 6 million views and more views coming, the lyrics might be eventually be changed permanently in the minds of people all over the earth who sing this song in the car, in bars, in stadiums or around a campfire.
I’ve heard this mistake before, and I considered it a “Rookie” mistake. The wrong words are easier for people to sing (the phrase “blowing like a breeze” is more natural than “growing like a breeze”) so it kind of made me feel like I was part of a secret John Denver fan club, knowing and singing the correct lyrics.
I wonder how this makes Bill Danoff feel? Bill and Taffy Danoff co-wrote this song with John Denver, and it was a HUGE success for them, but does it irritate them to hear their words changed?
One more small correction. If you continued listening to the entire song you might have also caught this: for some reason, Home Free sang ‘modest lady’ instead of ‘miner’s lady’. Weird. I wondered about that too, and I did see a couple of comments about that change.
What do you think? Am I being too picky? Should Home Free check the lyrics before making an official video? Is West Virginia ‘Blowin’ or ‘Growin’? Please write your comments in the box below!
Follow us on Facebook
Heard the first one but the “modest” lady one really jumps out. Both change the meaning John intended. I do like their voices, but geesh. 🤭
We agree Wendy…geesh!
Haha, I remember there was a discussion about this “ages ago” on facebook.
To make sure, I asked Bill Danoff – who confirmed it is “growing” …. because “blowing would have been just too obvious” 😉😉
Hi Inge! Thank you for adding this! I was going to write on Bill’s Facebook page and ask him, but I was pretty sure he’s had to answer this question time and time again. I’ll bet it drives him crazy!!
Good catch Ann, sounds like they were more concerned with good harmony, not accurate lyrics. Sometime ago I found a website listing misheard lyrics. Worth looking at, I laughed out loud at some of them.
West Virginia blows, and there’s a modest lady hanging around somewhere…..🤦♀️
Haha! Like Marilyn Monroe holding her dress down? Lol!
I AGREE with you ANNE I don’t like it
Thanks Mark – but more than not like it (it was very well sung) I just don’t understand the word changes.
Absolutely CRAZY
Since I was a child, I always wondered why it was “growing” like a breeze when it seemed “blowing” fit better.
But as I grew, I kind of understood.
But “modest lady” gets my goat.
Mostly because I’m a feminist, and I’m pretty sick of women always being told how to dress and act in order to simply be female.
But that may just be a “me” thing.
But at the end of the day, nobody should be changing the lyrics of a song they did not write.
Hi Joey, well said! I’m going to follow this blog up with a related comment from John Stewart (who wrote “Daydream Believer” and many other great songs). To be continued next month!
Heard them sing “Modest Lady” and cringed. Didn’t they read the Lyrics before recording the song? Great voices, but Don’t mess with a John Denver Song! NEVER! EVER! When you’re familiar with the BEST, it’s difficult to listen to the Rest, with the exception of The Jim Curry Band. They’ve ALWAYS DONE THE MAN AND HIS MUSIC PROUD!
I just don’t get it….did they change the words on purpose? Why? And it seemed no-one even noticed.
Not a fan of it at all.
When Arlo Guthrie recorded Steve Goodman’s “City of New Orleans,” he made a huge change in the 2nd verse. I guess Steve was OK with it, but as a Chicagoan, I felt the “alternate” words changed the tone and mood of the song. Steve got lots of followers from Arlo’s version, so I guess that helped the author’s career. I’ve never heard anyone else address it. But I understand your irritation, Anne.
Hi Jean! It’s just a curiosity (not an irritation) to me. Interesting you mentioned “City of New Orleans” I’ll try to remember to mention that in my next blog. John Denver also recorded “City of New Orleans” and he also changed the words. I didn’t like the change of words, little did I know they were already changed! Thank you for the insight and I will research that song further!
Being a fan of Home Free and a Denver fan for over 50 years I am surprised that I didn’t catch it. Maybe it’s like the photo that was published of Jim and labeled as John Denver on a video. I really think I was Blinded by the light a revved up like a deuce another runner in the night.
Or possibly Don’t go around tonight
Well it’s bound to take your life
There’s a bathroom on the right.
Ray, I too am surprised that you didn’t catch that mistake! Maybe you got lost in Da Gada Davida?
Hi Anne, the only acceptable version is John’s version… hope to see you up in Minnesota again soon.
Hi Keith, I can’t believe we don’t have any offers from MN….I’d better get to work on that and rattle a few cages!
I really like to see other artists singing John’s songs. It is like they are helping to keep his music alive. I like this version apart from the mistakes.
Same here Valerie, I love to hear other artists singing John Denver songs, and I love this version of “Country Roads”. I was just noticing that no one seemed to notice the change in the lyrics. I guess ultimately, I’m curious if the words will be permanently changed in the future.
Has anyone bothered to confront the band about the changes/errors they made? Just curious.
Patricia – I scrolled thru pages and pages of their comments and didn’t see one mention of anything wrong…if fact, several people posted the lyrics (I don’t know why people do that) and the lyrics were incorrect. I spent way too much time reading the comments and didn’t see anyone asking about the change in lyrics. The good news is, almost all the comments were positive and mentions of John Denver were all good!
I contacted you a couple of years back tell you about a young lady student of 8 who is 11 today! And whispering Jessy which is now her stage name is playing nicely now.
Country Roads is one of our favourite and most popular songs and we would never change from the original Lyrics.
Hi Norman! I remember you sending me the story! Happy Birthday Jessy!
Wow! 5 dates in Arizona in November!!!! I hope we’ll be seeing a lot of each other.
In the meantime, we’ll see you on Wednesday in Simi Valley.
WEll, Richard – In Arizona it’s tuff to know who we will see. I’m trying to get more information but even mid-September I can’t find anything online about ticket sales and if they will be available to people outside their community. All I know is that we are hired to appear on a certain date at a certain time. I will continue to try to get more information and I look forward to seeing you in Simi!
I have loved John Denver’s for many years and I love all genres of music….Home Free have great harmony but you shouldn’t mess with perfection!
Maybe so, Carol – I was just so surprised that their page wasn’t flooded with corrections! Home Free is a very popular band and their singing is beautiful.
Anne,
I don’t like artists who change the words, change up the meaning, to make “it” their own either agenda. It kind of feels strange but the ONLY thing that I can say, they might bring more younger people to listen to John Denver’s music and after listening to Home Free, they might search for more of John’s music, see that song, notice the difference between the two and see what John really said
In the original version.
At 78 years “young”, I throw some of John Denver’s songs into my water exercises. It’s my selections, John’s words and they love it and lots of singing along! We all know what the lyrics are and what they are all about.
All I can say is, Anne and Jim keep the music alive and continue to share what you can about the man John Denver and his love of country, family, the earth and his music.
You guys are the best!
Avid fan from the sunshine state
Carol Devlin
Thank you! Glad you share John’s music with your water exercise group!
You don’t honor John Denver memory by singing the wrong words to his music… Maybe the intent to pay tribute to JOHN was Noble, but you can’t be careless in the execution of that tribute…
Chris: knowing that you are a songwriter, and I had the same thoughts that the words should be right ESPECIALLY if you are doing a tribute. But if you are famous in your own right (like Home Free) I guess you can either negotiate a change or get away with it. I’m going to continue this discussion in next month’s blog so stay tuned!
Chris: knowing that you are a songwriter, and I had the same thoughts that the words should be right ESPECIALLY if you are doing a tribute. But if you are famous in your own right (like Home Free) I guess you can either negotiate a change or get away with it. I’m going to continue this discussion in next month’s blog so stay tuned!
Will you add a flash drive for the new one that we could play in car and computer. Looking forward if it is formatted flash drive port
Hi Bernie, Jim is working on a flash drive design – we need to stay up with the times and they don’t put CD players in cars anymore!
Hi Bernie, Jim is working on a flash drive design – we need to stay up with the times and they don’t put CD players in cars anymore!