Did you know it took only one night in a basement to create a song that has been played over 500 million times? John Denver stayed up until six in the morning with his friends Bill and Taffy to finish a brand new tune. They were in a small apartment in Washington D.C. after a scary car accident. That long night gave us the classic anthem Take Me Home, Country Roads.
The music feels like a warm hug from an old friend. John Denver used his famous twelve string guitar to make a sound that feels like driving home. He wanted the song to be sweet and clean so every family could sing along. His voice is very clear and soft which makes the listener feel peaceful. He was a smart man who knew how to make people happy with just a few chords.
John Denver – Take Me Home, Country Roads (Live from The Midnight Special 1973)
People all over the world still love this performance because it feels so real. One viewer said that hearing this song makes them feel like they are back in their childhood home. Another person mentioned that John has the most honest face in music history. It is the kind of song that makes people want to hold hands and smile at their neighbors.
That clean and perfect version almost sounded very different because of some wild ideas. Before the song became a hit, the writers had a much stranger story in mind. John Denver had to make a big choice to change the words. He decided to act like a businessman and protect his career. He knew that some spicy lines would never work on the radio.
Bill Danoff – The Story Behind “Country Roads”
In the original version, there was a verse about naked ladies and men who looked like Christ. Bill Danoff thought those funny words were great for a folk club. John Denver told him to cut those parts out right away. He wanted the song to be about mountains and memories instead of a farmhouse party. Fans today are shocked and giggling when they hear the naughty lyrics that almost stayed in.
John Denver was a master at finding the beauty in simple things. He traveled a long way from small clubs to the biggest stages in the world. His style was always kind and his journey shows that being smart pays off. He turned a messy road trip into a song for the ages. Follow John Denver on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. He truly was the voice of the mountains.