The 10 Best Travel Rock Songs

The 10 Best Travel Rock Songs | Society Of Rock Videos

via The Beatles/YouTube

Whether you’re travelling by a plane, train, or a bus, don’t you just love it when you listen to a song that talks about the journey you’re going through? We listed down ten of the best rock songs that were written about moving from one place to the other. Take a look below.

10. “Ramble On” – Led Zeppelin
From: Led Zeppelin II (1969)
The epic journey portrayed draws influence from J.R.R Tolkien’s works. Robert Plant sings that “time has come to be gone” as he embarks on his quest to find his “love so fair.”

9. “City of New Orleans” – Arlo Guthrie
From: Hobo’s Lullaby (1972)
In 1972, the folk-rocking offspring of Woody Guthrie had a radio smash. Chicago-based singer-songwriter Steve Goodman wrote it about traveling by train. “Good morning, America, how are ya?” is Guthrie’s sweet refrain, and his honeyed voice is laced with joy.

8. “Midnight Rider” – The Allman Brothers Band
From: Idlewild South (1970)
The song is co-written and sung by Gregg Allman, is one of the greatest Outlaw songs. The song shows a man on the run since he has few other options. Even though he is down to his last cent, “The road continues on forever.”

7. “The Passenger” – Iggy Pop
From: Lust for Life (1977)
We are given a tour of Berlin’s S-Bahn rapid transit system by Iggy Pop. He successfully catches the enchanted ambiance of a city at midnight. The song was produced in Germany by David Bowie, along with the rest of Pop’s “Lust for Life” album.

6. “Jet Airliner” – Steve Miller Band
From: Book of Dreams (1977)
This song was originally written by Paul Pena and later taken by Steve Miller and his band. Miller sings and plays the funky guitar riff as he describes his journey to the 707 while struggling with the decision of whether to stay at home or leave the nest. The lyrics are frequently contradictory as a result.

5. “Proud Mary” – Creedence Clearwater Revival
From: Bayou Country (1969)
John Fogerty’s “Proud Mary” is a quintessentially American song about a working man’s life on a riverboat leaving New Orleans. Ol’ Ludwig was well known for having a good time on the Rhine.

4. “Open All Night” – Bruce Springsteen
From: Nebraska (1982)
The song describes the singer’s early trip through the New Jersey Turnpike in order to go back to his girl. According to Springsteen, “This New Jersey in the morning is like a lunar landscape.”

3. “Tangled Up in Blue” – Bob Dylan
From: Blood on the Tracks (1975)
Dylan changed the song from the first person to the third person in concert, and said it allowed him greater freedom to express himself. He later commented on the freedom of writing this way: “You’ve got yesterday, today and tomorrow all in the same room, and there’s very little you can’t imagine happening.”

2. “Born to Be Wild” – Steppenwolf
From: Steppenwolf (1968)
The 1968 riff-rock song “Born to Be Wild” was heavily featured in the film “Easy Rider.” Since then, the song has become inextricably linked to images of roving motorcycles. Steppenwolf’s song was created by bandmate Mars Bonfire specifically for them.

1. “America” – Simon & Garfunkel
From: Bookends (1968)
Simon’s song follows two young lovers as they take the journey from Michigan to New York City. Simon’s unrhymed blank verse lyrics follow the travelers as they go from idealistic optimism to realistic frustration. While searching for America, the voyage goes on, the friendship develops, and these individuals learn more about themselves.

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