Willie Nelson, “On the Road Again”
No list of top songs for a road trip playlist is complete without “On the Road Again” by Willie Nelson. While you might think Nelson penned the tune about life on tour when he was in the back of his own tour bus, he actually wrote the song on an airsickness bag when an executive of the movie “Honeysuckle Rose” approached him on the airplane and asked him to compose the theme song. The song is now one of Nelson’s most recognized tunes, and it won him a Grammy for Best Country Song in 1981.
Bruce Springsteen, “Born to Run”
Released in 1975, “Born to Run” offers a catchy melody and Bruce Springsteen’s legendary rough vocals, which come together to get you pumped for any road trip. Amazingly, Springsteen admits he wrote this song in a final attempt to become successful in the music industry. While the lyrics are written as a love letter to a girl named Wendy, Springsteen says that at its core, the song is simply about getting out of Freehold, the small town in New Jersey where he was raised.
Prince, “Little Red Corvette”
“Little Red Corvette” by Prince was one of the biggest hits of its time when it was released in 1983. Prince said he got the idea for the song when he fell asleep in the pink Montclair Marauder owned by band member Lisa Coleman. Although the song is about a one night stand with a beautiful woman, sometimes it’s more fun to imagine yourself cruising down the open road with the top down when listening to this catchy tune.
Eagles, “Hotel California”
“Hotel California” consistently makes the list as one of the top songs released by the Eagles, and the guitar solo always ranks as one of the best. In fact, the album of the same name won a Grammy for Record of the Year in 1978. While you and your passengers could spend the entire road trip debating the meaning behind some of the complex lyrics, songwriter Don Henley said the song was about “a journey from innocence to experience.”
The Proclaimers, “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)”
Even though “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” by Scottish band The Proclaimers isn’t one of those stirring ballads with deep lyrics, it’s still a song you can’t help but sing along with when it comes on. Although the song was almost instantly a hit when it was first released in the United Kingdom in 1988, it didn’t become popular in North America until 1993 when it was included in the film “Benny & Joon.”
When you’re putting together your playlist for your next road trip, make sure you include some of these perfect songs.
Image via Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/en/street-road-horizon-endless-238458/
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