Here’s the 13 best travel songs. Following my stab at a list of the 13 best movies about travel, I thought I’d work to come up with the very best songs about travel.
That’s a very different exercise than the best songs for travel, this isn’t a ‘play list for the road’ it’s about borrowing someone else’s poetry to describe the travel experience. There’s no question that George Gershwin didn’t write Rhapsody in Blue to be about travel, but it’s equally clear that the 1924 composition has become inextricably linked with United Airlines.
What songs most evoke travel for you and are missing from my list? Which ones here are new to you?
The 13 best travel songs:
- Iggy Pop – The Passenger. This 1977 classic resulted from Iggy Pop travelling with David Bowie on tour in North America and Europe. Reportedly he didn’t have a license and the two drove around in Bowie’s car. Although it’s also said to be loosely based on a Jim Morrison poem.
The song features in the trailer for Up in the Air and in promos for Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown. There’s probably nothing more evocative of travel.
- Paul Kelly – Sydney from a 727. I first discovered Australian singer-songwriter Paul Kelly on a visit to my family Down Under over 25 years ago. I was instantly a fan. He’s been a member of the Australian Recording Industry Association Hall of Fame for nearly 20 years, though a virtual unknown in the States though he’s toured here.
Listening to Sydney from a 727 (which was also recorded as being from a 747), you can almost picture coming in for approach off the ocean (“I can see Bondi through my window way off to the right”) while capturing the spirit to take off in search of something (“And quit your job on the spot / Bought that ticket yeah spent the lot”). While no song quite captures the landing sequence quite like this one:
And the captain says belt up now we’ll be touching down in ten
So I press my seat and I straighten up
I fold my tray and I stash my cup
As the red roofs are catching the first rays of the morning sun - The Animals – We Gotta Get Out of This Place. It’s an anthem that speaks to almost everyone, because everyone wants change. It was popular with soliders in Vietnam, with high school students who can’t wait to get out on their own, and with travelers who need to travel and feel cooped up when they’re at ‘home’.
- The Proclaimers – I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles). As if taking a journey, taking a long arduous journey, to make your way to someone wasn’t enough someone once actually walked 1000 miles to convince his girlfriend to marry him. It turns out the journey wasn’t a real precondition of marriage and she was joking, but he did it anyway.
- David Byrne – A Million Miles Away. No, this singer who once led the Talking Heads isn’t talking about what you have to go through to earn lifetime elite status.
But he is singing about the need to get away — travel far, far away — and become someone else, and be seen as someone else (“A toad is a prince in someone else’s eyes
And you can’t tell a man by his clothes”). - Simon & Garfunkel – Homeward Bound. Is there any other song that’s truly the business traveler’s anthem? Waking up in the middle of the night, after being on the road for weeks at a time, and wondering what city you’re in you grab your phone because a weather app is on the home screen. And it tells you what city you’re in.
I’m sitting in the railway station.
Got a ticket to my destination.
On a tour of one-night stands my suitcase and guitar in hand.
…Every day’s an endless stream
Of cigarettes and magazines.
And each town looks the same to me, the movies and the factories
And every stranger’s face I see reminds me that I long to be,
Homeward bound - Johnny Cash – I’ve Been Everywhere. Originally an Australian country song which named that country’s towns, it’s amazing the song has been made to work for Singapore, Belgium, Canada and any number of other places too.
With all the US cities Johnny Cash has been to — Waterloo, Kalamazoo, Kansas City, Sioux City, Cedar City, Dodge City, what a pity — I hope he’s saved up his miles and points because he could really use an international vacation.
- George Gershwin – Rhapsody in Blue. Gershwin’s classic is more United Airlines now than anything else, at least to a traveler. The original composition from the tunnel connecting United’s B and C concourses at Chicago O’Hare is a riff on Rhapsody in Blue.
- Phil Collins – Take Me Home. Maybe the song isn’t actually about going home. And maybe it’s a protest song against involuntary confinement in mental institutions. But for me it’s about longing for home, being on the road so long that you can hardly remember it but home is still your true North. (.. But, seriously.)
There’s a fire that’s been burning
Right outside my door
I can’t see but I feel it
And it helps to keep me warm…So take, take me home
‘Cause I don’t remember - Elvis Costello – Peace Love & Understanding. As I walk through this wicked world, searching for light in the darkness of insanity, I ask myself “Is all hope lost?”
It may not immediately seem like a travel song, but travel is about connecting with and engaging people and culture different from your own and yet building a common bond — of peace, love, and understanding. And it helps that the song was featured in Lost in Translation too.
- Frank Sinatra – Come Fly With Me. Come fly with me let’s fly let’s fly away. It spent 5 weeks at number one, and just as I want to claim George Clooney as one of us for Up in the Air we’ve got to lay claim to Sinatra…
- Ricky Nelson – Travelin’ Man. This 1961 classic shows its age, there’s no question it objectifies women, the song is about each city in the world in which he has a girl. But he clearly gets around.. to Mexico, Berlin, Hong Kong not to mention Hawaii and Alaska. But since its 1961, there’s no music video so it’s safe for work!
- Red Hot Chili Peppers – Around The World (or maybe Aeroplane or Road Trippin’). When I first started thinking about this list it didn’t occur to me that The Red Hot Chili Peppers would be on it, but they have several songs about travel, from the plane to car but Around the World is the most meta and in some sense follows Elvis Costello with lines like “life is beautiful around the world” and indeed it is.
So what am I missing? What belongs on this list?
Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd
The best travel song ever.
How about “Born to be Wild” by Steppenwolf? Was in Easy Rider and not only a great song but personified the freedom of traveling on a bike along a lonely highway!
“Ramblin’ Man” by The Allman Brothers.
“Leavin’ on a Jet Plane”?
Gary, you missed Dallas, by Joe Ely not the original from the Flatlanders but the best version. It starts out “have you ever seen Dallas from a DC-9 at night…”. Was he on an AA DC-9 or Delta when they had their hub there? We’ll never know! Great song and I love you list.
For those ‘into’ so-called ‘Yacht Rock,’ I’ve got several: First, everything Steely Dan. All of it. Specifically, “Aja” (you know, sounds like ‘Asia’). And there’s “Sailing” by Christopher Cross, and “Ride Like The Wind” (with Michael McDonald). And, while the lyrics make little since, why not throw in “Africa” by Toto (I’ll admit, I’ve played it a few times en route to the continent.) Anyway, ‘pack a small bag!’
Holiday Road, Lindsey Buckingham
John Denver, “Country Road”
You forgot Willie Nelson’s “On the Road Again”. It’s a classic gotta get away song!
Clint Black – “Killing Time” flight delays (and reading this blog)
Merle Haggard – “Silver Wings”
the loneliness and loss of being left behind
Sorry to be repping the 80s so much here, but “Your Love” by The Outfield, with its opener: “Josie’s on a vacation far away…” can ‘get ya in the mood’ (to travel), I suppose. Great voice (and guitar).
Not a fan of the song, but “Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)” by Eurythmics, lyrics “traveled the world and the Seven Seas” is fairly ‘on the nose’ for an 80s (travel) anthem.
Holidays in the Sun – Sex Pistols
Safe European Home – The Clash
Holiday in Cambodia – Dead Kennedys
The Flower Duet only makes me think of BA
Orinoco Flow – Enya
And yes, Holiday Road…
(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66 -any version
Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
Beautiful Day – U2
“Country Road” by John Denver, who died in a private airplane accident.
“Jet Airliner” by The Steve Miller Band.
“Leaving on a Jet Plane” by John Denver as sung by Peter, Paul and Mary.
I often sing “Leaving on a Jet Plane” to myself when I am getting ready to go away from a place I want to come back to. It always gets me sad.
Jet Airliner by Steve Miller is obviously a missed opportunity.
Take Me Home is a good one. Will always remember that scene in Miami VIce (filmed at Newark Airport) with Sonny Crockett leaving New York in the terminal. Two you may have missed: Me and You and a Dog Named Boo by Lobo is a serious travel song. And, believe or not the Partridge Family had a song called, “I’m on the Road” which is actually quite a good travel tune.
“So I’m on the road
Travelin’ free and easy
Travelin’ on
Gotta get on
Well, I gotta get on
Gotta fill my life with living
Just tell everyone I’ve gone
On the road”
“Roll Me Away” by Bob Seger.
Another one is “Turn the Page” by Bob Seger.
Buddy Greko. Around the World
America by Simon and Garfunkel is a personal favorite.
I have soft spot for the “I have gone to look for America” stanza.
Expressway (To Your Heart), performed by the Soul Survivors, 1967 (composed by Gumble and Huff).
By the time I get to Phoenix.
Eight Miles High by the Byrds
About the band’s first trip to England
I’m with Linda…
“On the Road Again.”
And here I was thinking MY choices were old and dated – this is a pretty classic/boomer list, so I’m going to bring my GenX flavor to the mix…
Roam – the B52s
One Night In Bangkok – Murray Head
Africa – Toto
Englishman In New York – Sting
747 (Strangers In The Night) – Saxon. Based on a 1965 incident where a power failure in New York sent planes scrambling. The only flaw is it probably should have been retitled 707 because the 747 didn’t exist yet.
Peter, Paul and Mary……Leaving on a Jet Plane!
“Vacation” by The Gogo’s.
Peter, Paul & Mary, “”Early Morning Rain” out on runway number nine,
Big 707 set to go” .
My favorite airplane, flew it twelve years as an F/O (5) with the old time WWII guys and Captain(7). worlds fastest truck, everything but the rudder was mechanical linkage, back when pilots actually flew them, no computer was going to take it away from you with four big thundering P&W Jet engines, if one quit no big deal. When folks dressed up being served by classic coiffed Stewardess. Oh well great memories.
I forgot one I’ll bet no one remembered “Silver Bird” by Mark Lindsey
We use to overfly Midway Island and call the tower to request “Silver Bird” played on the AFRS station which they would announce on the air.
“Miles from Nowhere” by Cat Stevens. Sang this a lot as I road my bike from the East Coast to the West in the summer of 76. Mostly the line, “Look up at the mountain, I have to climb, oh yeah, to get there”.
Canned Heat: “On the Road Again”
“Coming Into Los Angeles”, cause he’s bringing in a couple of ki’s (as in kilo’s of marijuana)
I think it is great that a bunch of travel warriors are weighing in on this subject. I am going to take all of the songs listed and create a travel list. Thanks to everyone.
I do think that the best travel song is in the ear of the beholder.
I’m glad “Leaving on a Jet Plane” is in the comments. I think “On the Road Again” Willie Nelson, “Wagon Wheel” Old Crow Medicine Show, and maybe if I push the definition “Home” Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros.
“Up, Up and Away” by the 5th Dimension.
IIRC, TWA adopted this as part of its marketing program.
“Back in the U.S.S.R” by the Beatles
I don’t think Aeroflot nor BOAC used this in their marketing….I wonder why!!
“Highway to Hell” by AC/DC
“On The Road Again” by Canned Heat (different tune from Willie)
Bob Seger – “Turn The Page” (1973):
On a long and lonesome highway, east of Omaha
You can listen to the engine moanin’ out its one-note song
You can think about the woman, or the girl you knew the night before
The 70’s…You had to be there!!