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:
Get our latest tour dates here.
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!
You guys are the best. Can’t wait to see you again!
No Ed, you are the BEST!! Looking forward to the next time!!
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.
When a singer at one of The Villages (Florida) restaurants sings this song everyone listening to it sings along no matter where they are from. It brings such unity!
Glad to hear that Michele – unity in song and spirit!
I could have missed this for the lack of a radio because my parents didn’t want to pay extra to have a radio in their station wagon. I was a teenager in the back seat west bound to the Grand Tetons where we would camp and hike. My brother brought a friend along on our family vacation, and his friend brought a transistor radio. So as we were headed down the road, I kept hearing John singing “Country Roads”. In those roughly 2000 miles of traveling, I discovered that song and really liked it. When we got back home, I was able to play the Greatest Hits album at the YMCA where my mom worked and I was hooked on John’s music which became a guiding direction for me as I was growing into a young adult. At home, I started listening to radio stations that played John’s music and started collecting his records.
Hi Jennifer! We are glad to know you through our mutual “friend” in music!!
Certainly this song written in collaboration with Bill Danoff and Taffy Nivert (I suspect mostly Bill) is a pensive wish to return to a more simple and peaceful existence devoid of modern day stresses. Although certainly a commercial success, it is in my opinion that another song covered by John Denver but written by John Prine entitled “Paradise” may be a better example of the futility of those wishes. WE often spend our time wanting to see the next episode of our lives only to desire to recreate our past. In another Iconic media the anthological TV series, Twilight zone two episodes deal with this subject. The first possibly my favorite episode, “Walking Distance” explores the futility of trying to return to your past and reminds us that you have only one pass through your life. The next “A Stop at Willoughby” Confirms the only way we will ever be able to go home. I encourage the watching of these episodes and listening of “Paradise” both Denver’s version and Prine’s who was an amazing songwriter in his own rite .
Hi Ray, We sure love John Prine’s Paradise, it’s a song we’ve been performing together for many years – we often have commented that John Denver was not only an excellent song writer, he was also a great song-picker….he often recorded amazing songs written by others. If you remind us, we can sing “Paradise” for you at the next concert you are able to attend.
I grew up in the city (Indianapolis) and it wasn’t until we moved to Spencer, Indiana 2 years ago that I truly understood what “Country Roads” means.
When I drive anywhere from here, I generally roll down the windows (in summer!) and blast “Country Roads” as I wind through the roads near my town.
I view the horses, cows, cornfields, bean fields, and even a llama farm! I can smell the country air (take that however you’d like!) and just feel….happy.
I love my small town and I love the roads that take me there. Take me HOME…those country roads! <3
Jim and I are glad you are enjoying life in Spencer, Indiana Jolynn!!
Before the Covid and fire at Lahaina, Maui, our condo/hotel had ‘Mai Tai Wednesday’ with a Hawaiian singer who also did USA songs to Hawaiian music. I was sitting next to him and asked if he could do Country Roads…amazing the whole hotel reception area singing Country Roads! Amazing….think I told that to Jim several years ago.