About The Song
In 1970, Billy Danoff and Taffy Nivert were en route to a family gathering on Clopper Road in Montgomery County, Maryland. To pass the time, they composed a song about the meandering country roads. However, the challenge arose when the three syllables of “Maryland” didn’t align with the song’s rhythm. Danoff suggested the four-syllable “Massachusetts,” but then thought “West Virginia” would fit even better.
Danoff’s lack of familiarity with West Virginia didn’t hinder the creative process; he assumed the state had picturesque mountains and winding roads. Reflecting on this, Danoff remarked, “West Virginia might as well have been in Europe, for all I know.”
At that time, both Danoff and Nivert were aspiring musicians, aiming to establish themselves in the industry by penning a hit song for established artists. Their breakthrough came when they opened for John Denver at the Cellar Door in Georgetown, Washington, D.C. Following the performance, they shared their composition, “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” with Denver, who enthusiastically embraced it. The trio collaborated until the early morning, refining and perfecting the song into a masterpiece.
John Denver debuted “Take Me Home, Country Roads” at the Cellar Door on December 30, 1970, earning a standing ovation that lasted five minutes. Danoff recalled, “When we first sang the song together, it seemed as though the audience would never stop applauding. Next show, same thing. We knew we had a hit.”
Denver subsequently recorded the song for the album “Poems, Prayers & Promises,” released in the spring of 1971, marking the beginning of its historic journey. The song quickly gained popularity, reaching No. 2 on Billboard’s U.S. Hot 100 singles chart by April 12, 1971, and achieving gold certification by August for selling over a million copies.
The appeal of “Take Me Home, Country Roads” extended to West Virginia, where it became an integral part of the culture. In 1972, West Virginia University adopted the song as a pre-football game anthem, and it continues to be played at various athletic events and university functions. Fans join in singing the song alongside the team after football games. The song’s significance in West Virginia is evident, with its incorporation into the state’s official slogan and its designation as one of the four official state anthems in 2014.
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Lyric
Almost heaven, West VirginiaBlue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah RiverLife is old there, older than the treesYounger than the mountains, growin’ like a breezeCountry roads, take me homeTo the place I belongWest Virginia, mountain mamaTake me home, country roadsAll my memories gather ’round herMiner’s lady, stranger to blue waterDark and dusty, painted on the skyMisty taste of moonshine, teardrop in my eyeCountry roads, take me homeTo the place I belongWest Virginia, mountain mamaTake me home, country roadsI hear her voice in the mornin’ hour, she calls meThe radio reminds me of my home far awayDrivin’ down the road, I get a feelin’That I should’ve been home yesterday, yesterdayCountry roads, take me homeTo the place I belongWest Virginia, mountain mamaTake me home, country roadsCountry roads, take me homeTo the place I belongWest Virginia, mountain mamaTake me home, country roadsTake me home, (down) country roadsTake me home, (down) country roads