John Denver died on October 12, 1997. Almost 30 years later, one of his hit songs re-appears on 2 Billboard charts that didn’t exist during his lifetime.
The song is “Take Me Home Country Roads,” written by Bill and Taffy Danoff (Fat City) and John Denver. If ever a song stood the test of time, this one has and will continue to stand, and it will be “growing like a breeze” for generations to come.
Link to billboard article: https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2025/02/21/john-denver-posthumously-debuts-on-a-billboard-chart/
The event that propelled the song back to the Billboard charts was February’s 2025 Superbowl game, with the innovative idea to make a television commercial interactive with a live audience by inviting everyone to sing along – joining the fans and players of opposing teams in a few moments of blissful unity.
Link to Rocket Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxH8dlWyjNU
Of all the wonderful John Denver songs we are privileged to perform, the very first notes of “Country Roads” brings the most excitement and happy reactions during our tribute shows. Heck – in West Virginia, we are required to sing it twice, once at the beginning of the show and again at the end…lol, it’s how they do it in West Virginia!
In my years of performing. I’ve heard a lot of stories about how this song has brought back many memories of home and family.
Please, take a moment and share in the comment section what Take Me Home Country Roads means to you:
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Country Roads is an anthem and a timeless ode to roots and all the glories of the simple life. I never get tired of hearing it!
Right you are Mark, we never get tired of playing it!
I agree with Mark. Country Roads is a reminder of how things used to be. More of an easy does approach to one’s life.
When this song (and pretty much any John Denver) comes on and I get a instant a sense of joy/happiness thinking about the Curry family and boy scout campfires. Thanks Mah! Thanks Pah! 🤗
Awww….miss you sonny!
Awww….miss you sonny!
The part of Oklahoma I grew up in, traveling to grandma’s house in Corn and hauling wheat during the summer, dirt roads / country roads were a part of our lives. When I heard that song, I heard a lot of Oklahoma in it. Just like all of John’s songs, there was a meaning for everyone and for me that was about the place I still call home. There were two other songs that evoked the same sentiment, Back Home Again and Mathew. When I heard John talk about the Jet Plane Trilogy, that hit home. I have my Take Me Home trilogy, and all three take me to a place I love to call home.
Thank you for sharing Ed! What great memories!
The song as well as most of his songs take me back to a more innocent me…listening to his live album at my parents house and pretending it was me singing. When I went to your concert in Livermore ca. all the memories cam flooding back.