Traveling Songs!!!!

Whoooweee! You came to my rescue with all kinds of good traveling songs that mention place names. Here’s what you suggested, and then I’ll list what I chose for this year’s 2009 Traveling CD:

How about the song Hollywood by The Statler Brothers. You can find it on there Atlanta Blue Album or on there A 30th Anniversary Celebration Box Set. ~ Carl W.

You GOTTA include that quintessential “on the road” song made famous by the hotel commercials, “I’ve been everywhere” by Johnny Cash! A fun one to try to memorize… makes long trips go by quicker! ~ Greg M.

Here’s the song:

We made it from Minneapolis to the Black Hills and back with Adventures in Odyssey — 6 new 4-cd sets (from Library Services or something like that) and we had a blast. Good for all ages, especially if some of the CDs are new stores. “Darkness before Dawn” is an excellent set with spies, intrigue, and excitement. Not exactly music, but… ~ Ruch N.

Only secular titles come to mind, but I’m thinking…
Life is a Highway – Tom Cochran
Magic Carpet Ride – Steppenwolf
Ride Like the Wind – Christopher Cross
Every Day is a Winding Road – Sheryl Crow

An interesting mix to start your collection. Perhaps you could pitch the collection to Time / Life and you could be on late
night infomercials! ~ David E.

Another “place” song is “On the way to Cape May (NJ)”. ~ Doug Y.

“Gary, Indiana” from some musical
“Chicago”
“Chatanooga Choo Choo” (Chatanooga, Tennessee)
“I left my heart in San Francisco”
~ B&B A.

“Do You Know the Way to San Jose”
I’ve Got a Gal in Kalamazoo” (ancient, might not be the exact title, but that’s the lyric)
“Sausalito” by George Duke
Rocky Mountain High by John Denver
Heart of Rock and Roll by Huey Lewis (mentions a bunch of locations)
Philadelphia Freedom by Elton John
Georgia by Ray Charles
Tender Tennessee Christmas by Amy Grant
Rock and Roll Band by Boston (mentions the city of Boston and state of Rhode Island)

Heck, these are the ones off the top of my head. That’s GOT to count for a head start, eh? ~ Greg S.

Georgia on My Mind ?
Chicago, Chicago ?
West Virginia, Almost Heaven – John Denver
By the Time I Get to Phoenix – Glenn Campbell
Houston – Dean Martin
Is Anybody Going to San Antone – Charlie Pride
Colorado Rocky Mountain High – John Denver
I Left My Heart In San Francisco – Tony Bennett
Bummin’ Around – Dean Martin
Sweet Home Alabama – ?
Galveston – Glenn Campbell
Oklahoma!
Gary, Indiana – Music Man
I’ve Been Everywhere – Johnny Cash
Kentucky Rain – Elvis Presley
Lubbock, Texas in My Rearview Mirror – Mac Davis
God Bless America
One’s On The Way (Here in Topeka) – Loretta Lynn

Here’s a short list. Unfortunately, ones in black are country songs with a sad connotation of the place mentioned. ~ Chuck H.

Almost Heaven West Virginia-Gotta love John Denver for travelling music.
Please come to Boston
Nothin’ could be finer
Georgia on my Mind
On the Road Again
Sweet Home Alabama
Living Here in Allentown
Timein New England
My Old Kentucky Home
I’ve been Everywhere ~ Tim B.

Don’t forget The Partridge Family with “Point Me in the Direction of Albuquerque”!
Gotta love those 70’s!!! ~ Cindy M.

Michael W. Smith – A New Hallelujah
Rich Mullins – Here in America

This land is your land
Route 66
Spirit of New Orleans
Travelin’ Man
King of the Road
God Bless the USA
Life is a Highway
I can see clearly now
No Particular place to go
Run for the Roses
Drivin’ my life away
Beep Beep (Nash Rambler song)
California Dreamin’
Sweet Home Alabama
I’ve Been Everywhere (Johnny Cash version)
Rocky Mountain High
Take me Home, Country Roads
Oh What a Beautiful Mornin’ (from Oklahoma)
Back in the USA
Convoy
Ride like the wind

Lot’s of Ray Stevens songs
VeggieTales: On the Road With Bob & Larry
~ Paul S.

Panama – Van Halen
Rio – Boz Skaggs
I’ve Been Everywhere – Johnny Cash
Amarillo – Kathy Mattea
Callin Baton Rouge – Garth Brooks
Here in America – Rich Mullins
Sitting on the Dock of the Bay –
Rocky Top – Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Down on the Corner – Credence Clearwater Revival
Folsom Prison Blues – Johnny Cash
Heaven – Los Lonely Boys
Home – Rich Mullins
Hotel California – Eagles
Cheeseburger in Paradise –
Love is in the House – Toby Mac
Mexico – James Taylor
Mountain of God – Third Day
New York State of Mind – Ray Charles
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Script Ohio (La Regiment) – THE Ohio State University Marching Band
Sweet Home Alabama – Lynyrd Skynyrd
Midnight Train to Georgia – Gladys Knight & the Pips
Underwater – Switchfoot
Viva Las Vegas – ZZ Top
Walkin in Memphis – Lonestar
Kansas City – The Fabulous Thunderbirds
Carolina on My Mind – James Taylor
Boston – Kenny Chesney
Please Come to Boston
Just Another Day in Paradise – Paul Vasser
The Journey – Steven Curtis Chapman
Good to Go to Mexico – Toby Keith
Where the Streets Have No Name – U2
~ Scott B

California, Here We Come
Rocky Mountain High
If I Had a Wagon I Would Go to Colorado
Deep in the Heart of Texas
I Left My Heart in San Francisco
Do You Know the Way to San Jose?
The Yellow Rose of Texas
San Antonio Rose
Everything’s Up to Date in Kansas City (from Oklahoma)
Hannibal, MO (from Tom Sawyer)
Tennessee Waltz
Kentucky Babe (Stephen Foster)
Swanee River (Foster searched for a southern river with only two syllables for this song, couldn’t find one, so changed the Suwannee River Florida & Georgia into Swanee)
Sweet Georgia Brown
New Orleans Blues
Rocky Top (Tennessee)
Nothing Could Be Finer Than to Be in Carolina in the Mornin’
New York, New York
Carry Me Back to Old Virginny
Gary, Indiana (from The Music Man)
Iowa Stubborn (from The Music Man)
Streets of Laredo
The Dogie Song (a dogie is a calf; words mention “Git along, little dogies, you know that Wyoming will be your new home.”) ~Marcia W.

How about “Gary, Indiana” from the Music Man I think. ~Perry P.

A little traveln music fer youn’z, enjoy!
Forty Miles from Poplar Bluff – Dolly Parton
Battle of New Orleans – Johnny Horton
Ballad of the Alamo – Marty Robbins
L.A. International Airport – Lynn Anderson
Wolf Creek Pass – CW McCall
Rocky Mountain High – John Denver
Sweet Home Alabama – Lynyrd Skynyrd
Get your Kicks on Route 66 – Robin Williams or Nat King Cole
Dixieland Delight – Alabama
Galveston – John Denver
North to Alaska – Johnny Horton
P.S. This is Austin – Brad Paisley
El Paso – Mary Robbins
Battle of Bull Run – Johnny Horton
Rock Island Line – Johnny Cash
Erie Canal – ???
Streets of Dodge – Johnny Horton
Detroit City – Bobby Bare
Blue Moon of Kentucky – Bill Monroe
~ Jerry R.

you have to have CONVOY. My son (6) loves this song when we go on road trips. ~ Jason

“Walking in Memphis” – Marc Cohn
“Little Rock” – Collin Raye
“Route 66” comes to mind – I like the John Mayer version from “Cars”
“Dallas” by Alan Jackson (more of a country love lost tune but cute)
“Sweet Home Chicago” – Blues Brothers (they were on a mission from God
too)
“Leaving Las Vegas” Sheryl Crow – A good idea for a Christian to get
out of town!
“Sweet Home Alabama” – Lynrd Skynrd
“Kentucky Rain” – Elvis
“Tennessee River” – Alabama
“My Home’s in Alabama” – Alabama
“Tennessee” – Sugarland
“Chicago” – Frank Sinatra
“Chattanooga Choo Choo” – Glen Miller Orch
“Georgia on My Mind” – Ray Charles
“Tulsa Time” – Don Williams (or Eric Clapton)
“California Dreamin” – Mamas & the Papas (better than California Girls
or Hotel California anyway)
“God Blessed Texas” – Little Texas
“Luchenbach, Texas” – Waylon Jennings
“Kansas City” – Wilbert Harrison
“Cleveland Rocks” – Ian Hunter
“New Hawaiian Boogie” – George Thorogood
“Oh, Atlanta” Alison Kraus
“Streets of Bakersfield” – Dwight Yokam or Buck Owens
“Nashville Cats” – Lovin’ Spoonful
“Allentown” – Billy Joel
“New York State of Mind” – Billy Joel
“Philadelphia Freedom” – Elton John
“Portland, Oregon” – Loretta Lynn
“Walkin’ to New Orleans” – Fats Domino
“St. Louis Blues” – Louis Armstrong
“Blue Hawaii” – Elvis Presley (or Willie Nelson”
“North to Alaska” – Johnny Horton
“Callin’ Baton Rouge” – Garth Brooks
“La Grange” – ZZ Top
“Viva Las Vegas” – Elvis Presley
“Detroit Rock City” – KISS – you decide if to include
“Moonlight in Vermont” – Ella Fitzgerald (or Sinatra)
“Key Largo” – Bertie Higgins
“Amarillo by Morning” – George Strait
“Heads Carolina, Tails California” – Jo Dee Messina
“Key West Intermezzo” – John Cougar Intermezzo
“Ohio” – Crosby Stills Nash & Young
“Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man” – Conway Twitty & Loretta Lynn
“City of New Orleans” – Willie Nelson – other?
‘Lodi” – Credence Clearwater Revival
“Wild Montana Sky” – John Denver
“Heart of Rock & Roll” – Huey Lewis & the News (No towns in the name but it has got them all in the song” ~ William A.

Chattanooga Choo-Choo by Glenn Miller Orchestra
Sweet Virginia by Eddie from Ohio
~ David S.

Of course, since I’m from SC, Nothing could be finer than to be in Carolina in the Morning! (Carolina in the Morning)
~Marion W.

A favorite of mine for the trip home has always been “Country Roads” by John Denver. ~ Keith in WV

Since you’re headed to my hometown, I would recommend “Kansas City Lights” by Steve Wariner. It’s an old country song that was often playing in our kitchen at breakfast time when I was getting ready for high school (mid-1980s). The lyrics are about a sailor returning to KC to see his love. ~Darrin M.

Sweet Home Alabama
New York State of Mind
Good Texan
California Girls
Mississippi Queen
Carolina in my Mind
California Dreamin’
OHIO-Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
~ Rick P.

How bout’ Route 66? Knocks out a bunch of them:) ~ Jeff W.

Gary, Indiana (from the Music Man movie)
Sweet Home Alabama
Georgia on my Mind
Yellow Rose of Texas
song about state capitals from the family-friendly group Rockapella, called CAPITAL (it’s on youtube) ~ Deeper Family

The theme song for the TV show “Dallas” is really upbeat. If you ever watched it, the opening even started with a flyover of the freeway towards the city of Dallas, TX! ~ Mike S.

Chicago ~ Jeff

“It Never Rains in Southern California”
“Please Come to Boston…” (and Denver, and LA…I don’t know the title,
just the words) (might be Kenny Loggins)
“Arizona”
“North to Alaska” – Johnny Horton (the only one I can remember the
artist for)
“Saturday Night in Toledo, Ohio” – John Denver (OK, make that two)
and if you want a little international sound too…
“Autobahn” – Kraftwerk (“Wir fahrn, fahrn, fahrn auf der Autobahn…”) ~ jim K.

NC-In my mind, I’m going to Carolina-James Taylor
Georgia on my mind-Ray Charles
Florida Kokomo-Beach Boys
West Virginia-Take me Home/Country Roads-John Denver
~ Patricia B.

“Iowa Stubborn”
“Gary, Indiana”
“Sweet Home Chicago”
“I’ve been everywhere”
~ Toby R.

One song is all you need. “I’ve Been Everywhere” That says it all. ~ Levi A.

*Here’s what we chose:*
1. On the Road Again – Willie Nelson
2. Chicago -Tony Bennet
3. I’ve been Everywhere -Johnny Cash
4. Chattanoogo Choo Choo – Glenn Miller
5. On the Banks of the Wabash – The mill’s Borhters (We’re hoosiers after all)
6. Come Fly with Me – Frank Sinatra
7. Ballad of the Alamo -Marty Robbins
8. See the USA in Your Chevrolet -Dinah Shore
9. Georgia on My Mind – Ray Charles
10. Convoy – Box Car Willie
11. I’ve Got a Gal in Kalamaoo – Steve Lawrence
12. Houston – Dean Martin
13. New York New York -Frank Sinatra
14. California Here I Come -Al Jolson
15. I left My Heart in SanFransico – Andy Williams
16. God Bless America -Kate Smith

~We already had several of the songs mentioned because of some of the traveling music CDs we own…like Cars Sountract, Oklahomoa Sound tract, John Denver, Patriotic Music…and big band stuff.