# Rustle me up some road songs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 12, 2006, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rustle-me-up-some-road-songs/368390 "2006-08-12T02:20:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2006, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rustle-me-up-some-road-songs/368390/1 "2006-08-12T02:20:51Z")
I’m moving and I’ve got a 4 day drive in front of me, so help me make a boxed set of road music. I’m an acoustic girl, but I like just about everything (except Christmas music, Joanna Newsom and the Rat Pack). So, town to town. Dusty old boots. Sleeping bag behind the couch. Drifters. Two lane highways. Moving on. Empty pockets. Restless me. I’d stay, baby, but I’m a travelin’ kind of guy/gal. I want it all. So mix it up – so far I’ve got: _I’m Not From Here_ - James McMurtry _Highway 61_ - Bob Dylan _Midnight Rider_ - The Allman Brothers _I am a Town_ - Mary Chaoin Carpenter _Can’t Help but Wonder Where I’m Bound_ - Tom Paxton _Coyote_ and _All I Want_ - Joni Mitchell _Can’t Find My Way Home_ - Blind Faith _Don’t Cry Blue_ - Jonathan Edwards _Friend of the Devil_ - Grateful Dead _Transfusion_ - Nervous Norvis _Brave Companion of the Road_ - Nanci Griffith _On the Road Again_ and _Don’t Fence Me In_ - Willie Nelson ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2006, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rustle-me-up-some-road-songs/368390/2 "2006-08-12T02:38:54Z")
I would strongly recommend some more **Allman Brothers** Pick some from this list maybe: “Statesboro Blues” – 4:08 “Whipping Post” – 5:17 \*\*These are great driving songs: \*\* “Ramblin’ Man” – 4:47 “Midnight Rider” – 2:59 “Southbound” – 5:10 “Ain’t Wastin’ Time No More” – 3:37 **The Who** “Baba O’Riley” “I can see for miles” “Leaving here” “Magic Bus” “Motoring” \*\*CSN&Y \*\*: “Marrakesh Express”, “Wasted on the Way” & “Almost Cut My Hair” **Led Zeppelin** : “Ramble On”, “Bring It on Home” & “Going to California” “Freebird” by \*\*Lynyrd Skynyrd \*\* is perfect when you are getting tired. “Yours Is No Disgrace”, “Long Distance Runaround” & "Roundabout " are good picks from **Yes** “American Pie” by **Don McLean** “House of the Rising Sun” by **Eric Burden and the Animals** “Hush” by **Deep Purple** “Roadhouse Blues” & “Riders on the Storm” by **The Doors** Hopefully some sugestions you like in there, many have a driving or road theme. Jim ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2006, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rustle-me-up-some-road-songs/368390/3 "2006-08-12T02:47:15Z")
Damn, and here I came in to say _On the Road Again_! Well, you could add: _Ramblin’ Fever_ and _Movin’ On_ by Merle Haggard _Six Days on the Road_ by, well, almost everybody by now _I’m a Ramblin’ Man_ by Waylon Jennings _Roll On_ by Alabama _Heads Carolina, Tails California_ by Jo Dee Messina That’s all I can think of right now. ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2006, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rustle-me-up-some-road-songs/368390/4 "2006-08-12T02:49:46Z")
D’oh! I can’t believe I forgot _Amarillo by Morning_ and _Carrying Your Love with Me_ by George Strait. ---
**Author:** ![mick2940](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/858c86/32.png) [@mick2940](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mick2940)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2006, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rustle-me-up-some-road-songs/368390/5 "2006-08-12T04:58:39Z")
> [@koeeoaddi](#): > > I’m moving and I’ve got a 4 day drive in front of me, so help me make a boxed set of road music. I’m an acoustic girl, but I like just about everything (except Christmas music, Joanna Newsom and the Rat Pack). So, town to town. Dusty old boots. Sleeping bag behind the couch. Drifters. Two lane highways. Moving on. Empty pockets. Restless me. I’d stay, baby, but I’m a travelin’ kind of guy/gal. I want it all. > > So mix it up – so far I’ve got: > > _I’m Not From Here_ - James McMurtry > _Highway 61_ - Bob Dylan > _Midnight Rider_ - The Allman Brothers > _I am a Town_ - Mary Chaoin Carpenter > _Can’t Help but Wonder Where I’m Bound_ - Tom Paxton > _Coyote_ and _All I Want_ - Joni Mitchell > _Can’t Find My Way Home_ - Blind Faith > _Don’t Cry Blue_ - Jonathan Edwards > _Friend of the Devil_ - Grateful Dead > _Transfusion_ - Nervous Norvis > _Brave Companion of the Road_ - Nanci Griffith > _On the Road Again_ and _Don’t Fence Me In_ - Willie Nelson i’m movin’ on – hank snow ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2006, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rustle-me-up-some-road-songs/368390/6 "2006-08-12T05:10:53Z")
According to a poll done by a local radio station, the #1 song to rock out to while driving is… _Summer of '69_, by Bryan Adams. But they didn’t ask me. Best driving song ever, in MY opinion: _Radar Love_. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2006, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rustle-me-up-some-road-songs/368390/7 "2006-08-12T05:17:01Z")
> [@Antigen](#): > > Best driving song ever, in MY opinion: _Radar Love_. Excellent addition to a driving tape and like Freebird likely to lead to an increased chance for a speeding ticking. Jim ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2006, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rustle-me-up-some-road-songs/368390/8 "2006-08-12T05:29:18Z")
“One two three four five six Roadrunner roadrunner Going faster miles an hour Gonna ride by the Stop-n-Shop With the radio on I’m in love with the modern world I’m in touch with a modern girl New York City when it’s late at night I got the radio on I’m like a roadrunner yeah” Jonathan Richman ---
**Author:** ![LiveOnAPlane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@LiveOnAPlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LiveOnAPlane)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2006, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rustle-me-up-some-road-songs/368390/9 "2006-08-12T06:34:21Z")
I’d add these suggestions: _I’ve Been Everywhere_, Johnny Cash _Wolf Creek Pass_, CW McCall _Route 66_, Nat King Cole ---
**Author:** ![AveDementia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc8723/32.png) [@AveDementia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AveDementia)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2006, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rustle-me-up-some-road-songs/368390/10 "2006-08-12T06:51:16Z")
Bruce Springsteen, of course. He’s like the Boss of the Highway, or something. _Backstreets Racing in the Street Thunder Road Cadillac Ranch Indepence Day Working on the Highway Hungry Heart Reason to Believe Born to Run_ And so on… I’ve always thought it would be great to listen to his live version of Woody Guthrie’s _This Land is Your Land_ while driving through some scenic area. Maybe you could give it a try and let me know if it’s as cool I imagine it would be? ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2006, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rustle-me-up-some-road-songs/368390/11 "2006-08-12T10:19:42Z")
_Willin_—(I have the version by Little Feat, though the version by Linda Ronstadt was used in _The Abyss_) _City of New Orleans_—Willie Nelson _Scar Tissue_—Red Hot Chili Peppers I’ll second Johnny Cash’s _I’ve Been Everywhere_ _Born to be Wild_—Steppenwolf _King of the Road_—Various artists. (The Rat Pack’s always good) _Kaneda_—The _Akira_ soundtrack _Back in the Saddle Again_—Gene Autry Or, for more “thundering along in an overpowered battlewagon” themed-music (say, if you’re driving an SUV or a battered old van through incliment weather), as opposed to “crusin’ with the top down on Route 66” type-songs, I’d reccomend: _Panzerlied_ (Technically, not a _Nazi_ song…) _My Tank_—The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets Danny Elfman’s _Batman_ theme (C’mon, like you WOULDN’T be playing this if you owned your own Batmobile.) And, of course, for the “pretending you’re in a Big Daddy Roth painting” mood: _Jesus Built My Hotrod_—Ministry These are all separate from my special “Stay Awake” mix CD, I should add. (Somewhat incomplete, as it lacks Sousa…but still, it’s effective enough.) ---
**Author:** ![Meurglys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@Meurglys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meurglys)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2006, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rustle-me-up-some-road-songs/368390/12 "2006-08-12T10:40:11Z")
_Beer, Gas, Ride Forever_ by **The John Doe Thing** ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2006, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rustle-me-up-some-road-songs/368390/13 "2006-08-12T10:41:36Z")
_On the Road Again_ Willy Nelson _City of New Orleans_ Arlo Guthry _This Land is Your Land_ Woody Guthry _The Canadian Railroad Trilogy_ Gordon Lightfoot _500 miles_ various artists ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2006, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rustle-me-up-some-road-songs/368390/14 "2006-08-12T11:20:09Z")
_Big Love_ by Robert Plant will be on my iPod as I drive across the desert in the middle of the night. It’s always evoked that image for me. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2006, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rustle-me-up-some-road-songs/368390/15 "2006-08-12T11:50:48Z")
> [@AveDementia](#): > > Bruce Springsteen, of course. He’s like the Boss of the Highway, or something. > > _Thunder Road_ Then there’s [The Ballad of Thunder Road](http://www.univie.ac.at/Anglistik/easyrider/data/ballad_of_thunder_road.htm) by Robert Mitchum from the late 50’s movie of the same name. I believe it was the inspiration for Springsteen’s, or at least I read that somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2006, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rustle-me-up-some-road-songs/368390/16 "2006-08-12T11:56:48Z")
> [@Turek](#): > > _Big Love_ by Robert Plant will be on my iPod as I drive across the desert in the middle of the night. It’s always evoked that image for me. And of course, what I really mean by _Big Love_ is _Big **Log** _. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2006, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rustle-me-up-some-road-songs/368390/17 "2006-08-12T12:07:57Z")
I won’t suggest specific songs for your playlist. I suggest you do no more than two mellow songs in a row (so you don’t get all laid back and sleepy). And try to steer clear of the long instrumentals. Singing along will keep you alert. Have fun! (I love a road trip!) ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2006, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rustle-me-up-some-road-songs/368390/18 "2006-08-12T13:04:32Z")
I always start a long road trip with Highway to Hell By AC/DC > [@](#): > > No stop signs, speed limit > Nobody’s gonna slow me down ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2006, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rustle-me-up-some-road-songs/368390/19 "2006-08-12T13:09:00Z")
Juice Newton’s “Queen of Hearts.” ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2006, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rustle-me-up-some-road-songs/368390/20 "2006-08-12T13:38:51Z")
_The American Ruse_ by **MC5** [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rustle-me-up-some-road-songs/368390.md?page=2)