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70s Classic Was Written About the WRONG Destination Cuz Band MISREAD a ROAD SIGN!-Professor of Rock
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- Опубликовано: 16 фев 2024
- Coming up, we go back to the making of a song that came from the basement sessions of an artist that originally wanted to work for the CIA. Songwriting couple Bill Danoff and Taffy Nivert were traveling to a family reunion when they read a road sign… It said Westernport Maryland but they misread it as West Virginia and so they wrote a song about the road sign… Their error would become an all-time standard. They originally wrote the song with Johnny Cash in mind but they were playing with a rookie by the name of John Denver who wanted to hear some of their newly written songs as both Denver and the songwriting couple were looking for their first hit. They showed him their West Virginia song called Take Me Home Country Roads but it wasn’t quite finished. They finished the song together and then next day when they played it to a small audience, the crowd went nuts… they were even singing along by the end. Take Me Home Country Roads became a 70s classic and It’s been named by legislation as an official song for West Virginia, even though the co-writers and the music icon that made it a huge hit had never been there before!. Let’s travel through the backroads to reach our destination and honor a true American standard…NEXT on Professor of Rock!
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#classicrock #70smusic #vinylstory #johndenver
Hey music junkies, Professor of Rock, always here to celebrate the greatest artists and the greatest songs of all time. If you remember getting life advice from members of Gi Joe after each episode You’re going to dig this channel of deep musical nostalgia. Make sure to subscribe below right now. I promise that you are going to love this channel. We also have a Patreon you'll want to check out. There you’ll find an additional catalog of exclusive content and you can even become an honorary producer to help us curate this music history.
Our story begins with Bill Danoff and Taffy Nivert, who were driving south on Maryland Route 36 to attend a family reunion. Billy noticed a road sign that read “Westernport,”….as in Westernport, Maryland…But, he misread it as “West Virginia.” That innocent error sparked their imagination, and prompted the couple to start riffing on writing a song about West Virginia. A place they had never been, but somehow were drawn to, as if it was their destiny to compose a song dedicated to its scenic beauty & a sanctuary from the pressures of the world.
Mary Catherine Nivert, born in Washington, D.C., earned the nickname "Taffy" from her older brother, who had a tough time pronouncing her middle name, Tafferine, when he was a child.
Her passion for singing blossomed in high school, where she would often sing along with the radio. Her talent caught the attention of a bartender in Georgetown who overheard her singing to a jukebox. Impressed, by what he heard, the bartender invited her to join a vocal group, which ultimately led her to meet her future husband, Bill Danoff, whom she married in ’72.
In the mid-60s, Bill was enrolled at Georgetown, pursuing studies in Mandarin with hopes of landing a job with the CIA. However, due to the limited opportunities available in the Central Intelligence Agency, Bill took a detour and embarked on a career in professional music instead. In his early teen years in the late 50s, Bill would often come up with impressions for songs.
Poll: What is your pick for the GREATEST SINGALONG SONG of all time, where you just can't help yourself?
Yellow Submarine
Smoking In The Boy's Room!
Little Help From My Friends
"Dead Man's Party" Oingo Boingo
St. Louis Blues fans sing Country Roads every game.
I’ve never understood why liking John Denver was always such a guilty pleasure. When Mama Cass calls you the greatest folk singer of all time, there shouldn’t be any guilt in loving him. Ive always very openly loved and enjoyed his music.
I agree!
Me, too! And he was FABULOUS in concert...a true artist in every sense. No hi tech stuff, just the best voice of all time!
@@beverlywilliams7278 yes he was. He was an amazing performer.
He's a national treasure.
Probably because he aimed his tender songs at girls and guys felt left out and pigeonholed him as corny.
At the end of my father's life, he was very weak and sick but I drove him, my sisters, my girlfriend and myself to his hometown 800 miles away. We visited my cousin's home while there who is a fantastic guitar player he broke it Country Roads with us all and many relatives all singing along, my dad was singing and clapping along. What a great night! We made it back home after a couple hospital stops. He died less than a couple weeks after this fantastic trip. Keep taking those country roads dad, I love you ❤️ and thanks to everyone involved in making this amazing song, it gave me a fantastic moment
WOW! Thank you for sharing such an amazing memory!
It's beautiful how music can take you back to a special time in your life. This channel takes me back to so many great memories. May your memories bring him back to you often.
Thank you for sharing your story. Brought at teardrop to my eye 🥲
I’m happy you got that experience.
Excellent story.
This song is the feel of sunshine, the smell of freshly cut grass, and the joy of running around, barefoot, without a care in the world. 🥰🥰🥰
Good description!
And sitting by a river on a hot summer day, bare feet with some mud on them, nature buzzing all around, and an ice cold beer from a cheap styrofoam cooler.
Well said!
After my Father took my sister to see Bobby Sherman, he asked me who I would like to see. I said John Denver. We went to Madison Square Garden in the 70's. There were 3 screens behind him, a fence, tumbleweeds, etc in front of him. And the most beautiful, clear voice you would ever hear. After my Fathers experience with Bobby Sherman and nearly going deaf lol, he didn't know what to expect. He came away from the concert not only enjoying it
but also with a new appreciation of John Denver. He came home from work one day and told me he heard John Denver sing the most beautiful song. It was Annie's Song...
Love Bobby Sherman!
Annie's Song was played at many, many weddings in the 70's.
This made me cry. My mom and I both loved John Denver so much. When she was dying, I told her to say Hi to John for me when she got to heaven. She couldn't talk but she smiled and nodded at me. Then she was gone.
When my now 44 year old son was 14, he asked me to please not let his friends know that he liked listening to John Denver, he still listens to him.
I'm in my 60s and still listen to JD
His friends probably listened to him too. I know I did. I’m sorry has a #1 spot in my heart.
I think the reason why this song is so popular is the universality of the emotions behind it. We don’t all hail from WV but we all have a hometown and many of us have moved away. This song evokes that yearning we all feel as we age to return to those simpler times and places when we were safe and surrounded by family and friends. Just my opinion.
You hit the nail on the head with that comment.
Yes! I love my hometown but it will never be home again. I grew in a very green valley in a small town in Vermont that is so small you can literally miss it if you blink. My family was there for something like 300 years, but only a few are still there
In 2021, My wife and I had driven a couple of hours through the mountains of northwest Thailand and stopped at a house made of shipping containers a few miles from the Myanmar border. It was raining hard, but a dozen people were under large metal roofing singing karaoke. No one spoke English besides my wife and me. Then, seven of the Thai women broke into ‘Take me home, country road…. ‘ in perfect English and harmony. It brought tears to my eyes.
I met John, his band and their entourage in MN in the early 70's. I was operating 'The Rotor', a carnival ride, and we had just closed down. They showed up after their Fair performance and basically pleaded for me to let them on the ride. I let them ride free. It was obvious they had fun as most of them laughed and thanked me over and over. Good memory. 🙂
So cool!!👍😅
I've never been embarrassed to show my love for JD.
I crank it and kill it!
He's a great backup singer. 😉
Good one! What other JD songs would you like to see us cover?
@@ProfessorofRock I'd be happy to see any of them get more attention. Thank you.
@@ProfessorofRock "Calypso"!
I know that John spent time with Jacque Cousteau on his research vessel, "Calypso", and it inspired him to write that gorgeous song.
That song captures the feel of the wind in your hair, salty sea mist on your face, "Oh look! Thar she blows!" as a whale surfaces and sprays the delighted crew.
Sorry, I get really carried away by the imagery of some great songs.🐋🐳
@@LazyIRanchCalypso is a great pick. Makes you feel free like the ocean breeze...❤
@@gregorykiernan7849 I'm making an ocean/sailing themed playlist today, just to see how many songs I can think of that fit.
So far I've got "Calypso", "Sloop John B", "Sail!" (by awolnation), "Singapore" (Tom Waits), "Into The Mystic" (Van Morrison), "Southern Cross" and "Wind on The Water" (CSN), several Pogues songs...
I think this is going to be a looong playlist!
I welcome suggestions!😃
🌊🚢🐟
To underscore the international appeal of Country Roads, one need only to travel to Munich for Octoberfest. I have been fortunate to attend two Octoberfests. John Denver was considered a son of Germany, as his real last name was Deutschendorf. You can't get more German than that. To understand the appeal of Country Road you needed to be present when nearly 1,500 people in the largest Octoberfest tent sang his song. They sang it with a reverence and joy that still brings a smile to my face. It is truly one of my great travel experiences.
I'm gonna have to look for a video now...
Not to mention thousands more Bavarians singing it on the way back to the u-bahn
Same at the 1989 bluegrass & country music festival in Kötz. It was the one song everyone in the crowd knew!
How about Wild Montana Skies?
It’s also EXTREMELY popular in Japan. I was completely blown away when I first watched the H. Miyazaki Classic “Whisper of The Heart” and the opening sequence music was ONJ’s version of “Country Roads”‼️It is not only featured in the opening credits, but, is featured throughout the film‼️😍😍😍😍😍😍
As a West Virginia native you can't beat this song. Take me home country roads. John Denver nailed this song!
It's about the western part of Virginia (listen to the lyrics)
It's a song, not a geography text. Next I'm going to hear Led Zeppelin writing about a Stairway to Heaven isn't real.
I'm sure you've been to a WVU football game or 2. It is fun hearing it blared over an 18 yr old kids car radio during tale gating!!
@@mjgrogan1315 correct, it's a song about the western part of Virginia. Not West Virginia
I hate to bust your bubble, but one of the lines is "Miner's lady, stranger to blue water" .
Virginia is no stranger to blue water (the ocean), as it has a long coast.
West Virginia does not.
My father was born in Italy, and as much as he loved his Brooklyn NY wife and family he was raising, he always held a deep sense of separation from his Northern Italian Mountain roots. He normally only liked opera and old Italian standards… But, from the moment he heard John Denver singing, take me home country Roads… Well, that did it! For the rest of his life, (which was about 25 years from the time the song came out.) this was the main song he sang throughout the day as he walked with a contented smile upon his face (BTW… he still sang his Italian songs too!)❤🎉
Thank you for sharing that!
I would love to visit Italy someday.
As a Mountaineer, I feel proud every time I hear it. Absolutely love it. Some of my best memories are singing Country Roads with 60k fellow WVU fans. Just nothing better.
I have to agree!
Leaving on a Jet Plane was my first introduction to John Denver. I cried as a teenager and I cry every time I hear it.
Thank you Professor for reminding us all about the smooth voice of John Denver.
I prefer his version to Peter, Paul & Mary's version
I used to make fun of West Virginia. Then I moved here and have lived here for nearly a quarter century in a town that's a cross between Mayberry and Twin Peaks! This state grows on you!
BTW---if you raft down the Shenandoah, don't drink the river water. It has Giardia!
So glad I’ve been there!
I lived in a holler on the W fork of the Mon for 4 years. I thought I’d landed at the arse end of the universe but being off the grid turned out to be great!
As a lifelong WV native, May I say (even if it is 25 years late) “welcome home.”
@@nhmooytis7058 arse? Lol. Your roots are showing?
John Denver sadly is one of the most underrated singer song writers ever. He was so sincere and kind I think other artists with not a tenth of his talent thought he was not genuine. It was actually him who came up with the “we are the world” Idea and was terribly hurt when he wasn’t included in the concert. I had the privilege of flying him to aspen from centennial airport in Littleton, Colorado after they put the wrong fuel in his jet. The word came across the P.A that if anyone was flying to Aspen someone would pay for a ride. I had rented a twin engine beech baron and planned to just do some mountain flying to get hours for my mountain rating. So I said yeah I’ll take someone. I was asked to go to my plane and the person would meet me there. I thought it strange but I agreed and when I get to the plane I was stunned to see John waiting. He introduced himself and was so polite and self effacing I was so impressed. So I do my preflight check and off we go. It’s going to take about an hour, and all he wants to talk about is me, my family and kids. Of course we also talked about flying which we both obviously loved. He’d laugh and tell me funny stories about being on the road and I just admired his lack of pretension or self importance, so amazing. So we get to Aspen and he wants to pay me $500.00 which I refused though he insisted. Anyway he shakes my hand and says “Chris listen man the next time your in Aspen look me up, and we will have lunch”. I’m thinking yeah John which is what he insisted I call him. Yeah I’m just gonna come knock on your door lol. I knew he’d forget me and we’d likely never meet again, but the sincere way he said it i think he was serious. Flash forward five years and me and my wife and kids are in Aspen before the season starts. My wife is inside a store and I go outside to sit on a bench and relax when I see these two guys walking toward me on the street. As they get closer I recognize John and as they pass we make eye contact. He walks about five feet and stops and turns around and gets this big smile and goes “hey! It’s Chris right?”. I was absolutely floored and he says to his friend remember the guy I told you about who flew me to Aspen? The guy said yes and John says this is him! His friend smiles and told me his name and said man it’s nice to meet you. John spoke highly of you. So we talk about five minutes and he asks about my family, and seemed so genuine to see me again. He then said god Chris I’m so glad to see you again and I hope the best for you and your family and he shakes my hand and gives me a light hug, and apologizes but said he had a meeting and had to go. I said yeah I understand besides if my wife comes out you’ll never get out of here. We both laughed and I wished him luck and he left. What I couldn’t believe was after five years he still remembered my name, and recognized me! I’ll never forget that time I spent with him and his amazing humble humanity. When he died in the plane crash in San Francisco Bay I cried. When the FAA released the accident report in “Flying Magazine” in a report called “Aftermath”. I remember reading it and I cried then as well because John flew jets, bi planes, and almost every other type regular aircraft. The report was a damning example of John making the most rookie of mistakes. No preflight check which would have shown him the plane had almost no fuel. No more than maybe ten minutes of flying time. I was so heartbroken that such an experienced pilot could make such a error, and even to this day I still try to understand what he was so distracted by that he would go up in a Ratan Flyer which are amazing aircraft under power, but without power drop like a rock. Without doing a preflight. He was 54 years old and had so much beauty to share with the world. It was cut short by a mistake a pilot of his experience should never make. My only solace was that he died on impact and didn’t suffer. Rest in peace John. You were a great artist and better human being.
Thank you for sharing that beautiful memory.
Great remembrance.
What an amazing story. Thank you for sharing. Yes, a very sad and perplexing ending.😢
Great story , I’ve been a John Denver fan for 50 years. It’s frustrating that he died so carelessly.
I cried reading your story, Chris. That is so heartbreaking, especially for someone like you who realized what a juvenile mistake John made by not checking the fuel.
Once when my son was about 3, we had this song on in the car when we got to the grocery store, and he kept singing it on our way into the store. This old guy stopped, turned to look at my son, and the biggest smile crossed his face. "Raisin' him right," was his compliment to me. (His fist concert was Weird Al, so I tend to agree lol)
Love the content, Professor. Your channel is the best on RUclips. ❤
Sweet story!
Thanks for sharing that! Too funny! Thank you for the sweet compliment!
Love it!
Country Roads AND Weird Al? You are raisin' him right! 😊❤
A few years ago I was waiting in a line with my daughter who was 10 at the time. There was a huge billboard outside the arena that said Roger Waters was performing there soon. I asked her if she knew who he was and she said without hesitation, “Pink Floyd daddy”. It was a proud moment! Some older folks standing in front of me said the same thing about raising kids the right way!
The thing about Country Roads, even if you have never been to the country, even if you did not grow up in a home you want to go back to, we all have a sense that there is this home somewhere. That dream of a simple, safe, pure, innocent, natural place is in us all.
This song is pure perfection and John Denver was the perfect singer to bring it to the world. It was an absolute tragedy when he died in that plane crash. His voice is sorely missed. Thank you so much for featuring this song. It brought a smile to my heart on this dreary morning. #TakeMeHomeCountryRoads
I agree! One of the purest voices ever.
Absolutely 😊😊😊
It is a total shame. The only good thing is that at least no one else was to be blamed for it, and no one else was hurt except millions of souls.
He flew a plane that was new to him, that he had just bought and just flown once or twice.
He knew that the fuel switch to switch between tanks was at a stupid place where you could not reach it in flight. He had it on the to-do list to have it reloface.
He knew that the fuel tanks were not full, the mechanic explicitly asked him whether to fill it up and he declined
He wanted to make just a few circuits around the airfield to familiarize himself with the new plane - superb plan, and the reason he thought not to need much fuwl.
But apparently he got carried away with the joy of flying the plane, and went strolling around the landscape at low height.
It seems then the tank ran dry and he would have had to switch to another tank (I think his LongEz had 3 tanks). But for that if at all, he would have had to turn around completely to reach behind his shoulde (and not knowing the exact location), hardly possible without losing control of the stick.
He seems to have tried this, running out of height and losing control. Maybe he should have better tried to look for a decent spot to (crash) land.
I take consolation in the idea he was happy and at peace with himself up to maybe the last 30 seconds of panic. Not too bad a death doing what you love.
I am fascinated by flying (went not beyond RC gliders), therefore the thorrough analysis. And it angers me when something goes wrong as series of errors, where any one of them missing and nothing would have happened. Why is fate so mean? Because it does not care, it does what the conditions have as result.
As said, try to think he was happy.
When my father died, a relative wanted to have pictures of him. I sent them pictures when he was alive and well together with them, "Remember him how he was back then, when we had fun, that does him better service".
As good as Johnny Cash is, this song was made for John Denver, even if the writers didn't know it.
@@feedingravensThank you for that detailed explanation - I had forgotten that he died in a plane crash, as unfortunately, too many others in the music industry, but I didn't realize he was the pilot!😢
“The radio reminds me of my home far away
Drivin' down the road, I get a feelin' that I should've been home
Yesterday, yesterday”
Such a beautiful, heartfelt song.
Wherever home is I think we’ve all felt this at some point.
So true!
I so agree.
Pure poetry, one of the best lyrics I've ever heard.
Those lyrics really do hit home, right?
Toots and the Maytals from Jamaica do a reggae cover of this song.
I was lucky enough to get to see John Denver twice at Red Rocks in Colorado. He had a voice that was just so clear and pure! At the time, we stood in line early like 6:00 AM until we were let in at like 5 where you rushed to get seats and we were so close, I still have some photos i had taken that were very good and remind me of that time. When John died in that plane crash it just crushed me, I still listen to his music and remember those concerts and hearing him sing at Red Rocks was awesome!!! Thanks for doing this video.
I remember those "festival" seating concerts! Get there as early as you can, running for the front rows! Standing on your chair dancing, you were close up, not like today's concerts. Great memories!
Oh man Red Rocks!!! I didn’t see John there but saw the Carpenters. Got to see John in 4 different concerts in the midwest.
Absolutely heaven.
John died three days after my mom, which made it even tougher.
@susanmacdonald4288 I had a very similar experience! He died about 2 weeks after my mother's death. I was distraught to lose him too; it felt like another terrible blow.
I saw John twice, as well. I'm not a super see-em-in-concert person, but with John.....it was an overwhelmingly incredible experience that I recall clearly, now 48 years later. And, yes, it was nearly an exact match with the live album. He told a few jokes and had a series of one-liners that I still remember. Fantastic showman, beautiful voice. Funny. Touching. It was everything that no other concert concert could touch.... and probably why I stopped going to other concerts. Because none of them even came close.
John Denver was never a guilty pleasure for me, he was always a pleasure to listen to. I will always love listening to his music.
I agree. No such thing!
Same here.
I'm 63 years old I've always lived in the country part of north Carolina I've been hearing that song since I was 10 years old always loved it everybody loved it and still loves it that song just gets in your soul becomes part of you
I could never forget the first day I heard Country Roads on the radio. Driving north on Interstate 75, through the hills of Tennessee, I was on my way home to Ohio after two years in Florida going to school. The first time blew me away. Then it was on again and again, through Kentucky, getting better and better every time. By the time I reached the bridge to Cincinnati, and seeing Ohio license plates on so many cars, it was a like dream come true.
I love Cincinnati!
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 One of my favorite things to do in Cincinnati (I was a student at UC from 1989 to 1992) is to go down to the riverfront, either side of the river, and just watch the river rolling on by. Yeatman's Cove, Sawyer Point, Newport Levee or the Covington waterfront...all unique views, all lovely, and just such a blessing to have only an hour and a half from home today.
When I was a young widow with two little girls
I would play John Denver songs and it gave me great comfort
So I will always love him and his music
Thank you so much for talking about him and his music
My son & I were driving not too long ago & Country Roads came on SiriusXM. I sang so loud, my kid covered his ears! But I did get him to help me sing the chorus. I really miss John Denver. ❤
My dad was from West Virginia, this was his favorite song of all time. He was having health issues and I was taking him to the hospital for exploratory surgery. This was on Tuesday. As we pulled into the parking lot, Country Roads came on the radio. It was the 1st time I had heard on the radio in years. Of course, my dad had to listen to it all the way thru. We found he had liver cancer, and he passed that Friday. So his favorite song was the last he ever heard. I got the chance to talk to John Denver when he was on a local talk show and told him about this. He was very gracious, got my phone number off the air. Later, he called me and arranged for tickets to his concert. He had my wife and I come back stage to meet us. When he did, he gave me a hug, thanking me for telling him my story.
That is a sad and beautiful story at the same time, so sorry to hear about your loss.
But what John did, that is priceless, and if there ever was any artist i would not be surprised he or she did that for someone... it has to be John Denver.
Going to show my age but my dad took me to the game where Denver sang. Everyone was standing, singing and a good many crying. I also saw Denver in the capital of WV and he sat on the steps and you could the love for him in the air. It is nice to know the history of the song and so very thankful for the song writers. West Virginia is almost heaven.
I was at the ball game when John Denver sang country roads to dedicate the new stadium.❤😅
Although I’m an old rocker, I’ve always had a fondness for Denver and his great songs. I always felt he really believed what he was singing and it wasn’t just a pose. Sad he died relatively young.
Awesome!
You could hear the passion in his voice.
All your stories have a way of bringing us closer to the songs. Now when I hear this one, I can imagine Bill and Taffy singing those beautiful harmonies and reliving how they all got together on that fateful night to create a masterpiece.
When I misread a Stop sign, thinking it said SLOW, I got a ticket and a fine. Bill and Taffy misread a road sign and wind up writing one of the greatest hits of all time. Maybe if I was driving a pick-up truck with a gun rack and a hound dog beside me, I could have turned it into a country song!
Ha ha! Good one!
Sounds like your story, if experienced by Shel Silverstein, would now be a classic song!
You still can turn it into a country song, what are you waiting for?😊
Thank god they misread that sign!
Your going to need a broken heart and old yella falling off the perch.
John Denver used to be a guilty pleasure until he testified at the Parents Music Resource Center hearing in 1985. He quickly went from guilty pleasure to bada$$ status. Still love and listen to his music, always will.
To me, he was never a guilty pleasure. That PMRC speech made us just love him even more!
Having heard John Denver sing this song live from the Capitol building in Charleston, WV as a child in my home state, I cannot express the sense of pride I've felt that day and everyday thereafter each time i hear this song. On the radio, at a sporting event, even karaoke. A timeless masterpiece. We don't care if the geography is a little off, we love it just the same. Thank you for this professor, one of my favorite videos you've ever done, cheers!
Wonderful comment! Thanks!
I was there too!!
cheers with a glass of Misty Tastin Moonshine & a tear drop in our eye from Laneville, Davis, Harman, & all of Dolly Sodds WVA bro! 🍻🍻
I tried and tried to pretend I didn't care for John Denver. I could only hide my feelings for so long, in '74 when he released Thank God, I'm a Country Boy the act was over. 😁
Thanks Prof. Again, I learned something today
Thanks for watching! I love him too!
TGIACB actually goes pretty hard. It's an out-and-out rocker for a so-called laid-back kind of singer. It's a defiant declaration.
It’s played at orioles games. And people love it
I’ll say this Professor. I’m 51 and I have watched many music buffs do a show similar to yours. You are the best at it, you know the little details that I’m sure those you interview are blown away by. I’m sure it makes the interview process for them so much better.
Thank you for all your effort cause it sure is fun watching these legends talk to you like they’ve known you for ever.
Thank you for posting this! I was in a bar once while stationed in Germany in the 80's, and a lone singer with a guitar was performing. He started singing this song and the whole bar crowd started singing along boisterous and loud. Being from Virginia and a little homesick, it brought tears to my eyes.
Thanks for sharing and for your service!
Thank you for your service!
Awesome story and experience. I hope to go to Germany one day.
I'll add my voice to the admiration of this classic as well as to the genius of John Denver. You're right, you can't help but sing along, and for me, you can't help but move to the country. Once there, you gotta sing "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" and my favourite "Sunshine On My Shoulder". Need to hear the breakdown of those. Thanx Prof! ❤
Thanks Rabby!
How about Rocky Mountain High?
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 Good one as well...
My brother was a Green Beret in Viet Nam when this song came out. He sent me the 8 track tape for my 1966 Mustang that I got from him when he joined the Army. He said the song was so beautiful and he missed home so much, he hoped I thought about him when I heard it. He had a severe head injury from a night time jump he made behind enemy lines in Cambodia and died from a brain hemorrhage when he was 32. I cry every time I hear it because I remember those times. I loved John Denver and I was wrecked when he was killed in the plane crash. He was a wonderful singer and song writer.
Living in Alberta, Canada in ranch country whenever on the road and this song was played, everyone in the car belted it out. I was in college in Calgary when "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" came out. The Calgary Stampede Rodeo was on that summer and walking down any downtown street you could hear John Denver from the bars to outdoor diners. It was everywhere! Great summer with great friends. Calgary Stampede you can't get anymore country.
"Y'know... if you remember getting life advice from the members of GI Joe..." 😆😆😆
good one, Professor. 😎
That's One To Grow On😏
The radio stations from lower Michigan to upper Michigan it was on just about every radio station , you could turn the radio dial and find it on. It was a 4 hour drive, and by the time we got to the cottage we knew all the words, great song and a great memory. It’s funny how something like this show triggers the memory. Thanks Definitely do Afternoon delight
John Denver's music is such a huge part of my childhood. I was born in 1970. My mom loved him. I was born and raised in Alaska, a place he visited often. Such wonderful music and memories.
John Denver is one of the greatest singer/songwriters of all time…. right up there with Dan Fogelberg and Gordon Lightfoot. Take Me Home, Country Roads is truly the great American classic sing-a-long song!! Thanks for highlighting it and the great talents that created it!
John Denver is one of those artists that you just can't help but love, no matter which genre you prefer. I had this 45 as a kid, and remember playing it quite a bit. I definitely think you should cover "Thank God I'm A Country Boy." I wonder how many times he rehearsed that song, to make sure he nailed it in the live performance that we all know. 🙂
Take Me Home Country Road is a special song to me,i was supposed to go home for christmas vacation but for some reason i wasn't able then i turn out my portable radio and this song came on the air and it brighten my gloomy day.Later i bought the Best of John Denver lp and everytime i listen to the song i look back to the time years ago when it brighten my day.
When I was feeling down "Take me home" helped me through it. Now I live in the foot hills of the Appalachian mountains, over a 1000 miles from my family's home. I have never felt like I was home till I moved to the hills of the Appalachians! ❤❤❤ Love listening to John Denver
It makes me nostalgic for life as a little kid.
“Almost Heaven” is used by West Virginia on its license plates now because of this song. Denver had such a beautiful voice and so much talent - thank you for discussing this great early hit!!
Not anymore.
@@FrancoM7747 What did they change it to, and why?
@@stymiedagain Not sure why or when but the slogan on the WV plate is "Wild, Wonderful".
Wild, Wonderful had been used as our slogan in the 70s. I think it was the governor at the time who used it. When the DMV changed the license plates people hated it. It was changed back a few years ago.
John Denver is the best. The main reason I am a professional musician today is because of his influence on me when I was a teenager. I still play Country Roads during my solo acoustic show, and it ALWAYS gets everyone singing. So many great songs…. I wouldn’t know where to start to ask you to do a review, Adam!
Early GenX here, and was practically born singing, lol! This was one of the first real songs I ever learned all the words to, around 3 or 4 I think. I had a cassette that had Country Roads and Sunshine on it, another beautiful song. So I've loved John Denver my entire life and I've never made any bones about it. The man could sing and was a great songwriter, what's not to love? 😂😂
I miss John’s music. I can only imagine the music he still had in him to share. A fellow musician, a fellow pilot. RIP John. Your music is your legacy.
Taffy’s backing vocals gives me shivers 😮
My first wife loved John Denver and I surprised her with tickets to see him in Indianapolis. The opening act was Starland Vocal Band. Afternoon Delight was just getting traction. Shortly after that concert you couldn’t turn on the radio without it being played in heavy rotation. Good memory.
Grew up in SE Ohio across the river from WVa and now live in the blue ridge mountains in the Shenandoah Valley. My 6 year old grandson loves Country Roads. This song sums my life. Thanks for doing this piece.
I was heading home to Colorado after 4 years of being in Seattle taking care of my Dad until he passed. I hadn't seen my wife in 6 months. Just outside three forks Montana this song came on the radio and all the emotions hit me, the beauty of where I was, the fact I was heading home and never mourning my Dad. This gruff construction worker tears up every time I hear it.
As a native West Virginian, I , of course, know this song by heart! It’s ingrained in the fabric of every proud Mountaineer! 💙💛 I especially enjoyed finding out about the lost lyrics referencing the naked lady and the hippie commune…😏😂 My son plays in the WVU marching band… I’ll be sure to share this with video him! I imagine he’ll get a kick outta hearing that!😂 As always, thanks for the extensive research you do to enlighten us all, Professor! 😊🫶
One of the 1st concerts I ever saw and still remember nearly 50 years later. He was magical live.
I have always loved John Denver and his music as a kid and even more now
We don't get songs like this at all anymore its a classic
You can love in the country in Texas as I do and still jam to it
Its a country state of mind for good times
One of the best concerts I ever attended was John Denver. He was on stage for two hours. The back-up band members came and went but he stayed and engaged the audience with the stories behind his songs. What a voice. I have a t-shirt he signed afterwards.
There was a Japanese anime several years ago where this song was the hook throughout the film despite the film taking place in Japan. Very interesting to hear Japanese “kids” in Japan singing these lyrics and just how heartfelt it seemed. The geographic details aren’t important - right or wrong. The song itself conveys a warm feeling of home and family and a place we all want to be even if it never actually existed.
It was "Whispers of the Heart", from 1995, and produced by Studio Ghibli. A wonderful movie!
Oh wow! The song has probably made it to Antarctica by this point too!
I graduated from WVU and my Japanese roommates knew every word to the song.
It's called whisper of the heart, I have it in my library, West Virginia is home no matter where I am. 🔥⛪👨👩👧👦🇺🇸💯💪
Wonderful episode about one of the voices of the 70's. My favorite singer. You nailed it calling his voice 'pure'; not many singers are like that, Karen Carpenter immediately comes to mind. It's criminal and a damn shame JD isn't in the Rock Hall.
Nice tribute. Well done Professor. Absolutely a sing along song. He had many. He was much maligned at the height of his popularity. I think John Denver is one of the most under rated artists of our time. This song as well as For you, Sunshine on my Shoulders, Annie's Song, Rocky Mountain High, Fly Away, Back Home again, Thank God I'm a country Boy, I'm Sorry. He was a great story teller. He had a great voice and a perfect range for the songs he sang. The older I get the more I appreciate this man's talents. Thanks for posting this.
The love for this song knows no borders. Many years ago, I was at JJ Market in Bangkok looking at all the unusual (to me) things they had for sale. I stumbled into a tiny music shop that had a Thai ranad--like a marimba, but with far fewer pitches than the 12-note western chromatic scale. I was figuring out what I could play on it, and realized I could play this song. Within seconds, a Thai gentleman, a total stranger, came beside me and with a big smile started singing along in a heavy Thai accent. I love how music unites!
I have loved John as long as I can remember. His songs touched places deep inside of me. I always felt like he knew me, he would have been an awesome friend. I remember the day he died, I almost didn't go to work.
A few years later, I took care of my mom alone 24/7 the last ten years of her life. I didn't sleep much. I would lie on the couch listening for her with one ear, an earphone with John in the other. His music got me through the hardest time of my life.
❤
John Denver.
A great voice of modern Americana folk songs.
Every time I try to tell anyone from West Virginia that this song isn't about their state..... it's about Western Virginia!
Thanks Professor. Have a great weekend.
Sadly, that wouldn't flow through. 😸
Thanks Roger!
@@ProfessorofRock
During his interview on "60 Minutes" (Australia), the late, great Bob Marley claimed that he was the author of this song, and that Denver had stolen it from him.
The lesson to be learned? Don't smoke ganja. :p
Oh yes it definitely describes WV perfectly!
@@ReverendDr.ThomasExactly, only losers smoke dope or otherwise abuse drugs. I have never used drugs, including alcohol...no regrets whatsoever.
This was played at both my Grandparents (mom’s side) funerals! in West Va! Having family from West Virginia makes this song like a relative!!
Thanks for sharing my friend!
@@ProfessorofRocknothin like hearin @ signing this at a Mountaineers football game that’s for damn sure! thanks for including that Prof!
My parents took me to West Virginia as a baby.
I just cant imagine this sing having the same impact with Johnny Cash. Much as i love him, too, this song needed John Denver's lovely clear voice. ❤️😥
My daddy used to always sing this to us...he had the most beautiful voice. He passed away a couple years ago, and I can't help but think of him when I hear this beautiful classic. Here's to you daddy. ❤
Thank you for this video❤ One of the things that make me feel nostalgic about the 70's was that everyone knew the same music and what the hits were.🎸 It wouldn't matter if you were 95, 25, or 5, everyone would know this song.❤
John Denver is a certified legend who was taken from us way too soon. (He died October 12, 1997 in a plane crash.) He had so many classic songs. First concert I ever went to was John Denver at the Providence Civic Center in Providence, RI in late 1979 or early 1980. I was 10, and my grandmother asked my mother if it was "a good idea" to take us to a "rock & roll" concert.
He passed in a plane crash that is where the country roads take me back home to…the Monterey Bay.
The spot where he passed is one of the most beautiful places on the entire planet, near Asilomar Beach in Pacific Grove, CA where the Pacific, the huge coastal rocks and the Monterey pine forest make a dramatic blend.
RIP John Denver…
I saw John Denver perform live back in the mid-80s. It was an informal performance with no stage, no chairs, no band - just John with his guitar and a couple dozen very lucky people all sitting on the floor in a circle as he played and sang. Been to a lot of live performances in my life but in many ways that one was the best. Spectacle and grand performances suit some musicians, but informal simplicity was where John really shined best.
He is not country and western music, he's his own genre. John Denver music. A class act and best of the best.
Keep it going with John Denver, Professor. One of the best naturally gifted singers of all time, in my opinion. His voice rang clear like a bell.
Friends With You is another great song.
I have loved John Denver and his music since I was a little girl. We sang Country Roads Take Me Home in grade school music class.
Last fall I attended the John Denver Celebration in Aspen, Colorado. I took a red eye flight and arrived just in time for the meet and greet party. There was a sing along the first day at the John Denver Sanctuary song garden. I sang this song in front of the memorial evergreen tree with other JD fans. It was a good experience.
A future song to cover, Perhaps Love. A song John wrote for Annie Martell when they were going through divorce. His Seasons of the Heart is a real 80s gem. Thank you for covering my favorite artist.
THanks Catherine!
I saw photos of your John Denver Celebration and it sounded like a wonderful place to be!
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 Thank you. I went to the Bob Marley movie on opening day. They gave me a souvenir poster. I took a photo and posted it on my community page. It is a nice gift from the Marley family. I hope you can go see the movie. I really liked it.
I posted a picture of a poster given to me at the Bob Marley movie. It is a gift from the Marley family for coming to the film. I hope you can go to this movie. @@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980
Started singing along to this song at an Elks Lodge on New Year’s Eve…….my moms sister and family all much older than I just listened as I climbed the scale hitting all the notes as I had done so many times singing this in high school!! The looks on their faces made my mom proud!
Perfect place to do it!
Our favorite singer of all time. I got to meet him once, briefly, between shows at the Nebraska State Fair in 1983.
After he died, we attended many of the John Denver Memorial concerts in Aspen. We got to meet John's band members, his mom and aunt, and make many friends who also loved John's music.
John's concerts were always awesome!!
With a tear in my eye, I'm smiling, as Take Me Home Country Roads was on of my favorite songs as a 9 year old boy, and now you say that there is a connection between that and Afternoon Delight? Yes, I wanna know more! Great episode, thanks!
Afternoon Delight by The StarLand Vocal Band, led by Bill and Taffy Danoff.
They even had a short lived TV variety show with "writer" David Letterman.
My wife and her Dad (who was from West Virginia) loved and shared a bond around this song. While my father in law passed away a few years ago - and like a miracle - anytime my wife thinks of her Dad, this song has a way of playing in the car. Solace and comfort from WV and beyond!
As an Australian who grew up listening to the Carpenters and John Denver on my parents old people’s radio station I fell in love with John Denver’s music so much so that when my father went to America for work I asked him to buy me a bomber jacket from West Virginia. As a twenty to thirty year old I wore that jacket everywhere. I learnt guitar playing his songs and miss him
I was a teenager when John Denver hit the airwaves. I and my friends were rock and roll snobs, turning up our noses at anything that hinted at 'bubblegum' music or easy listening. We mocked JD, calling 'Thank God I'm a Country Boy' into 'Thank God I'm a Millionaire'. I had to grow up to appreciate him. Now he's one of my favorites.
The song is also famous in Japan, especially when it was featured in the Ghibli animated movie "Whispers of the Heart" with a Japanese version.
THIS is what I love about this channel. I'm a music trivia junkie. I never dug into the background of this song, but you did it for me. This is not a guilty pleasure. This is an iconic song from an iconic singer songwriter. I grew up listening to JD. He's one of the greatest. This was indeed the perfect match of singer and song. When you mentioned them driving on 81, it brought back more memories. I used to work in Maryland, and I've traveled 81 many times through Roanoke and up through the states it goes through. After watching this episode, I feel elated. So many great memories, including playing this song, live in one of my bands. Great times, great memories. Thank you, professor. Cover Thank God I'm A Country Boy.
I got to see John Denver in Navada at a Lake Tahoe casino theater in the late 1970s. I flew up there from Southern California where I lived. The flight was amazing. It was winter time. The pilot flew right over Yosemite National Park and I got a once in a lifetime view of the park. Seeing John Denver perform live in Lake Tahoe, a place where my family spent nearly every summer vacation the first 10 years of my life, was just magical. Reality hit quickly when I returned to work on Monday. I had called in sick that Friday and a co-worker ratted me out to our boss. I was called into his office. I told him my real reason for calling in sick. As I was leaving his office he told me "I’m glad my wife didn’t know he was performing there or she would have wanted to go."😄
I had the pleasure of being in Munich for Oktoberfest one year, and had the surreal experience of watching 10,000+ Germans singing Country Roads all together. The ones I met spoke little or no English, but they all knew this song!
My brother liked John Denver alot. When I met him I tried to call him so he could speak with him. But he didn't get back with me. (Pre Cellphone days) So I got tickets for him for John Danvers final show here in Las Vegas. RIP JD
My very first favourite song. Always on the radio when I was a kid.
I was in a small place in Germany, enjoying a meal and some beers, when the music track playing in the background, began playing this song. The many different conversations immediately stopped, and everyone in the place, began singing this song. Not just the chorus, the entire song from start to finish. That’s when I learned how much of a giant John Denver was, and still is in Germany.
He is truly a treasure that is sorely missed.
I was born and raised in a small, very small, country town ... pop. 1200 until the age 18. We upped and moved to Dallas my Sr. HS year. Tho I was leaving my friends of all those years, I was so excited ... the big city, concerts, malls, etc. It didnt take long before i started missing my small town and friends, and 54 years later, still do. I've never grown out of being a country boy at heart.
I taught English at a medical school in China in the mid-1980s. My teammate and I both played guitar and taught our students Take Me Home Country Roads. It was a smash hit with all the students who bellowed out the lyrics. It was a great way to teach English.
Awesome!
I love that!
Thank you so much for this episode. This song took my breath away when I first heard it on the radio. I rushed out to buy the 45 because I really had no clue who John Denver was in those days. I absolutely wore out that record. My dad got so sick and tired of hearing it that he wouldn’t let me play it anymore. I got around him by buying the album and playing the other songs. That’s when I fell in love with John Denver. Unbeknownst to me, Dad had been listening to all the other songs on that album and asked to see the album. I freaked out because I thought he was going to break it when he saw John Denver. Mine you, we are a black family! It was unheard of to listen to anything other than Jazz music. He didn’t break it. He asked me to play Take me Home, Country Roads. It seemed as though he was proud to be a resident of West Virginia and finally be recognized. Back in those days West Virginia was either Western Virginia or nobody ever heard of it. Still today, there’s still some ignorance about my beautiful home. We have our problems, but there’s something about the song and the state that goes deep into your heart. I don’t think I’ll ever leave it. Thank you so much! You brought back such great memories.
In the mid 80s, I was a couple of weeks away from graduating Marine Corps boot camp, when JD did a USO sponsored concert for the recruits. Now mind you, the hall was packed with 17 - 21 year olds, most of whom had never been away from home for such an extended period of time.
For the final song of his performance, JD, of course, selected this one. When he got to the final chorus, he pause and told us to , instead of saying West Virginia, to sing out our home town, wherever that might of been. There we were, a thousand+ grown men/boys, crying our eyeballs out, snot running. Even now, I find myself getting emotional thinking about it. My most enduring memory of this song.
Yes, I loved Afternoon Delight. Imagine me at nine years old running around belting that one.
I play in a classic rock band. Never ceases to amaze me that no matter the age or type of crowd, someone requests this song!! It's a song that every performing musician needs to know. Huge crowd pleaser.
This song is also popular in Scottish pubs. Brings tears to the eyes of many. Miss you John Denver.
I clicked the like button as soon as I opened the video. The first memory that came up was sitting on a ski chairlift with a Walkman listening to An Evening with John Denver. The last memory is being in Ireland on a tour bus after a few Guinness and the entire bus was singing this song!
This was the very first song I learned how to play on guitar. I played and sang the song. When my mom first heard me performing the song she cried. I was 8 years old. It would have been around 1986. Good memory thanks for this.
When I was in my teens and beginning to rebel against my parents, there was very little we agreed upon. Musically we couldn’t have been farther apart. Thank goodness we had John Denver that we could enjoy together. It’s kind of sad that it takes growing up and having a family of your own to realize how right your parents were when you were growing up. Now my children and I enjoy the music of John Denver, someday I’m sure their children will too.
So cool! Thanks for sharing.
Proof that music can bring people together.
I'm a lifelong music addict, more of the hard rock/metal genre, but also classic rock/folk from my father's records I listened to growing up in the 70s! John Denver is so righteous!! A very underrated guitar player and just an amazing song writer and performer. Long live JD! FAR OUT!