5 John Denver Songs That Capture The Free Spirit Of A Cross-Country Road Trip - Grunge
5 John Denver Songs That Capture The Free Spirit Of A Cross-Country Road Trip
By Andrew Dirst June 22, 2026 10:07 am EST
Luciano Viti/Getty Images
There are few artists with music as fitting for the open road as John Denver. With a cross-country trip before you — the wide fields and tall mountains of the American landscape ahead — Denver's free-spirited music is the perfect soundtrack. And these five songs best bring alive the beauty of everything you'll speed by on the road. Denver's music kept this Americana, country, and folk style throughout his lengthy career — most of his hits came during the 1970s, specifically from 1969 to 1975, when the songs of this list were released.
The perfect road trip music is nostalgic in nature but also uplifting despite any heavier emotions. These tunes always capture that simple feeling of looking out the window into a great known or unknown land. Denver's lyrics bring out the joys and other feelings of the road, as much of his music embodies the traditional wanderer. Yet it's his reedy voice that really drives this message home — it's the perfect sonic paintbrush to the span of the Americas. In this list, we'll look back through the heights of John Denver's career to five songs that best embody the free spirit of a road trip, from the obvious hits to the lesser-known gems.
Take Me Home, Country Roads
The most obvious choice is also the most correct one in this instance, as John Denver's most iconic hit was simply made with the feeling of the free spirit of the road. Released in 1971 as a single and included on the album "Poems, Prayers and Promises," "Take Me Home, Country Roads" was a huge success, reaching No. 2 on the U.S. Billboard singles chart. It's a cross-country road trip staple for many reasons, first being its blissful, serenading leading melody that is as peaceful as anything Denver recorded.
The song's imagery also captures that feeling of the American expanse like no other, with Denver's lyrics feeling as though the car is speeding past all the sights as he lists and reminisces on them: "Almost Heaven, West Virginia / Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River / Life is old there, older than the trees / Younger than the mountains, growing like a breeze." "Take Me Home, Country Roads" is a tranquil masterpiece that features Denver's most nostalgic songwriting, as well as that anthemic chorus that almost every person knows. It's a song that brings people together, and whether you're hearing it in a packed, full stadium or a car in the middle of nowhere, "Take Me Home, Country Roads" will always be worth singing along to.
Rocky Mountain High
"Take Me Home, Country Roads" is well known as one of the official songs of a U.S. state, West Virginia — as well as the official anthem of Germany's Oktoberfest — but John Denver actually has a second track that's a state's official song, with this entry representing Colorado. This kind of physical effect from the music is further proof that Denver's voice is one of the premier soundtracks of the American landscape, and "Rocky Mountain High" is no different. Released in 1972 alongside an album of the same name, this song captures the majestic beauty of the Rocky Mountains. It charted well upon release, reaching the top 10 on the singles chart.
"Rocky Mountain High" has a therapeutic country folk sound that's led by deep and bright acoustic guitars and Denver's iconic tenor. The song's imagery brings the whole picture together, with Denver's narrative storytelling blending with gorgeous descriptors of the landscape: "And the Colorado Rocky Mountain high / I've seen it rainin' fire in the sky / The shadow from the starlight is softer than a lullaby / Rocky Mountain high (Colorado)." It's a sentimental and awe-striking ode to one of America's most stunning destinations, and "Rocky Mountain High" feels just like trekking through the pretty scenery on your way to some far-off destination.
Leaving on a Jet Plane
One of Denver's earlier hits, "Leaving on a Jet Plane" was released in 1969 and was most famous for being covered by Peter, Paul and Mary, whose rendition reached No. 1 on the US singles chart. This tune was re-recorded in 1973, though, for "John Denver's Greatest Hits." It's among his best work as a songwriter, and though it's not a direct ode to the beauty of a landscape, it uses the bittersweet feeling of leaving for a long trip to great success.
"Leaving on a Jet Plane" has the essential adventuring spirit that much of Denver's music utilizes: The undying freedom that represents much of his idealist sentiments of the era. It also has a touching, romantic lyric — "So kiss me and smile for me / Tell me that you'll wait for me / Hold me like you'll never let me go / 'Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane / Don't know when I'll be back again / Oh babe, I hate to go" — that grounds the free spirit with its moving emotions.
Annie's Song
"Annie's Song" blends the free spirited, traveling version of Denver with a romantic one — the song uses the imagery of the world and his love for it to quantify the love in his relationship. "Annie's Song" is one of Denver's four No. 1 hits, spending two weeks at the top spot during the summer of '74, and it's a brilliant and straightforward love ballad. It's a traditional sounding tune, and Denver's tenor shines in front of the light acoustics and gorgeous strings that build throughout the song.
Lyrically, the imagery is strong: "You fill up my senses, like a night in a forest / Like the mountains in springtime, like a walk in the rain / Like a storm in the desert, like a sleepy blue ocean / You fill up my senses, come fill me again." But it's all brought together by the tender melodies, which bring forth a palpable romanticism that a road trip can bring out of us — a great feeling of wonder at the wide open, beautiful spaces we pass by.
Back Home Again
This final entry is a relatively well-known song but certainly underrated compared to some of the hits that precede it. It's also the perfect song to bring an end to a long-spanning adventure on the road. Released in 1974, arguably the very best year of John Denver's career, "Back Home Again" is the title track of his '74 album, which also featured "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" and "Annie's Song." The song was a top 5 hit in 1974, one of six in Denver's career, and fans of the time certainly gravitated toward its gentle, nostalgic message.
"Back Home Again" is an appropriate finale to a road trip for its obvious titular reasons, but it's the imagery within that makes the song feel like a stretch and relax into the end of the cross-country trip: "He's an hour away from riding on your prayers up in the sky / And ten days on the road are barely gone / There's a fire softly burning, supper's on the stove / It's the light in your eyes that makes him warm." Though the road trip may be over, "Back Home Again" and the rest of the songs on this list remind us that the free spirit of being among vast countrysides, mountains, rivers, and more remains undying.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
