schlange - Posted - 01/12/2015:  12:17:54

Bill Danoff, Taffy Nivert, and John Denver

"Take Me Home, Country Roads" (aka "Country Roads") is arguably John Denver's most well-known song--a wonderful, upbeat tune with a singable chorus everyone knows.

Most of the song was written by Bill and Taffy Danoff (they were married at the time--Taffy later become Taffy Nivert), a duo called "Fat City" who used to open for Denver at the famed Cellar Door in Washington, D.C. Here's a good interview with Bill's perspective on the song.

The story of the song's genesis goes like this: they wrap up their set on December 22, 1970... John breaks his left thumb in a car wreck that night... he's wired on drugs... the duo introduce the song to him... and the three of them work on completing it until 6AM. 

The Danoffs were hoping to sell the song to Johnny Cash--they almost didn't play it for Denver because they didn't think it fit his style.

The song was premiered live December 30, 1970, during an encore of Denver's set, the singers reading the words from a folded piece of paper. This resulted in a five-minute ovation, one of the longest in Cellar Door history. 

John Denver released it on his 4th album, "Poems, Prayers and Promises" in 1971 with the Danoffs singing backup. It hit #2 on the Billboard Hot 100.

West Virginians love the song, of course. It's one of their official state songs in fact. Oddly enough, various sources I've read say the Danoffs and Denver hadn't been to West Virginia before writing the song.

Usually played in G, although Denver recorded it in A.

Lyrics:

Verse 1:

Almost heaven, West Virginia

Blue ridge mountains, Shenandoah river

Life is old there, older than the trees

Younger than the mountains, growin' like a breeze

Chorus:

Country roads, take me home

To the place I belong

West Virginia, mountain momma

Take me home, country roads

Verse 2:

All my memories, they gather 'round her

Miner's lady, stranger to blue water

Dark and dusty, painted on the sky

Misty taste of moonshine, teardrops in my eyes

Bridge:

I hear her voice in the mornin' hour she calls me

The radio reminds me of my home far away

And drivin' down the road I get a feeling

That I should have been home yesterday, yesterday

Learn the Tune:

• Hear it using the GrooveShark playlist to the right.


• We have a beginner video lesson which covers just the chorus, and a more advanced lesson covering the full song, both from Casey Henry. Only $6 thru 1/19!


• Backing Tracks: Band in a Box tracks are included below at various speeds for your practicing pleasure.


• Tabs: a couple tabs in the archives.

Share!

I (and others) would love to hear (and see!) you play your version of this tune--post it in a reply below!

VIDEO: Take Me Home, Country Roads - Osborne Brothers (click to view)	VIDEO: Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out - Take Me Home Country Roads [Live at WAMU's Bluegrass Country] (click to view)	VIDEO: John Denver - Country Roads (1995) (click to view)	Country Roads Chords
Country Roads Backing Track (G) 70BPM	Country Roads Backing Track (G) 90BPM	Country Roads Backing Track (G) 110BPM

Andy Campbell - Posted - 01/14/2015:  00:54:24

There are a couple of tabs in the archives, but the 1st one is awful. The second is one from Jay Buckey which is a fairly straightforward, but good, version.

The best tab I have encountered is by Jack Gentle (MickG). As ever, he produces great tab. Thanks again Jack.

home.comcast.net/~Jo_Tabs/Tabl...mbine.pdf

Ric in Richmond - Posted - 01/14/2015:  08:59:16

So the song is really about the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia since the song writer was geographically inept and now it is the state song of the wrong state?  I always wondered why it referenced the Shenandoah when only a tiny fraction of it is in WVA.

Who knew?

“Danoff says some of his late 1960s excursions to Western Maryland with his girlfriend provided the genesis for the song, as well as a subsequent trip down Interstate 81 on his way to Roanoke, Va.

We were driving down Highway 81 and there were the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Shenandoah River,” he recalled. “Up in Springfield, we have the Connecticut River and on one side of the river it’s Springfield and on the other side it’s West Springfield, so I just assumed the other side of the river was West Virginia.”

And then he wrote "Afternoon Delight"?......

Big I - Posted - 01/14/2015:  15:45:38

Here is my attempt at this tune. I got the tab from Russell Sawler.

VIDEO: Country Roads Steve Dilling intro (click to view)

rfrizzle2 - Posted - 01/14/2015:  16:06:09

Good Job Isaac, I just bought Casey Henry's Video Lesion, It will take me awhile.

Ks_5-picker - Posted - 01/14/2015:  16:12:11

Special Concensus has this song on their Tribute to John Denver album,released in 2012,I think. Greg Cahill's version uses a lot of simple alternating thumb rolls throughout.

rfrizzle2 - Posted - 01/14/2015:  18:09:02

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ks_5-picker

Special Concensus has this song on their Tribute to John Denver album,released in 2012,I think. Greg Cahill's version uses a lot of simple alternating thumb rolls throughout.

---

Rod, do you have a tab for that?

Rich Freeze

Ks_5-picker - Posted - 01/14/2015:  19:02:49

No,sorry......I'm about the last guy to ask about tab.  I'm just an ear player. 

rfrizzle2 - Posted - 01/14/2015:  20:31:55

Hi there, I wish I was that good.

Banjoal - Posted - 01/16/2015:  17:34:45

Tom Adams did a great version on tab in BNL a while back. (Aug 2003..)

Edited by - Banjoal on 01/16/2015 17:46:10

Garyflksngr - Posted - 01/19/2015:  11:46:41

First met the Danoffs back in '73 or '74. Don't remember where and John back in '69. I worked it up on guitar soon after I heard it the first time, but only converted it to banjo about five years ago. Here's my version with my Deering goodtime classis tuned in D with a wound 3rd and 4th.

Country Roads

Banjopilot - Posted - 02/17/2015:  15:15:04

The deeper and full sounds of the D tuning really work out here. The melody kept to what everybody and their Uncle are going to want to hear. I want to comment and compliment you on your vocal interpretation. You have a professional timbre and timing that I would guess on a bet you sang many songs in a few bands. Well done, well done.