On the Road Again (Willie Nelson song)
Encyclopedia
"On the Road Again" is a song made famous by country music
singer Willie Nelson
, and is part of the soundtrack to the 1980 movie Honeysuckle Rose
.
The song, about life on tour, came about when the executive producer of Honeysuckle Rose approached Nelson about writing the song. "On the Road Again" became Nelson's ninth No. 1 hit overall (sixth as a solo recording act) in November 1980, and became one of Nelson's most recognizable tunes. In addition, the song reached No. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100
, becoming his biggest pop hit to that time. Nelson won Grammy Award for Best Country Song a year later.
, Shrek
, Forrest Gump
, The Littlest Hobo
and Monk
, which features Nelson rehearsing the song with his band. On the 1981 album Urban Chipmunk
, The Chipmunks
play a version of the song that complains about the unpleasant demands of being on the road, despite David Seville
's protests against this unauthorized change. However, the instant he threatens to end their tour and put them back in school, The Chipmunks immediately sing the song properly.
A live version of the song is featured in 2008 video game Guitar Hero: World Tour, while the studio version was released for Rock Band
via the Rock Band Country Track Pack.
In 2004, Rolling Stone
ranked it No. 471 on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
In 2011, "On The Road Again" was inducted to Grammy Hall of Fame.
sang part of "On the Road Again" in his hit "The Bird": "The life I love is makin' money with my friend...".
The song was parodied by the comedy musical group Da Yoopers
as "Road to Gwinn" (a reference to Gwinn, Michigan
) on their 1986 album Yoopanese. On the 1983 CBS
game show
Press Your Luck
, Whammy sings a parody of the song on a horse, singing "Got your bucks again. I can't wait to get your bucks again...". This Whammy animation was used during the final months of the show's run in 1986.
In 2006, the American punk band Me First and the Gimme Gimmes
released a cover of this song on their album Love Their Country
. In 2007, Deana Carter
released a new version of the song featuring a duet with Willie Nelson in her album The Chain
. It was released as single, but failed to land on the chart.
A Swedish version, with lyrics by Keith Almgren
, called "Jag ser mig om" (Eng. "I look around") has been recorded by Anne Kihlström on the album Förgät mig ej in 1984, and also by Paula Jarl on a single and by Bennys on an album in 1987.
Buckcherry
covered this song in late 2009.
Conan O'Brien
performs the song as "My Own Show Again" during his 2010 Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television Tour
, changing the lyrics to reflect how he can't wait to return to hosting a television series after leaving The Tonight Show
earlier in the year.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
singer Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson
Willie Hugh Nelson is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie , combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger and Stardust , made Nelson one of the most recognized...
, and is part of the soundtrack to the 1980 movie Honeysuckle Rose
Honeysuckle Rose (film)
Honeysuckle Rose is a 1980 romantic drama film directed by Jerry Schatzberg and starring Willie Nelson, Dyan Cannon and Amy Irving.-Plot:...
.
The song, about life on tour, came about when the executive producer of Honeysuckle Rose approached Nelson about writing the song. "On the Road Again" became Nelson's ninth No. 1 hit overall (sixth as a solo recording act) in November 1980, and became one of Nelson's most recognizable tunes. In addition, the song reached No. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, becoming his biggest pop hit to that time. Nelson won Grammy Award for Best Country Song a year later.
Chart performance
| Chart (1980) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Kent Music Report | 64 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 2 |
| Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary Tracks | 3 |
| Denmark Hit 100 | 77 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 20 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks | 7 |
| U.S. Cashbox Top 100 | 22 |
Legacy
The song has also featured in several other films and TV series including South ParkSouth Park
South Park is an American animated television series created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone for the Comedy Central television network. Intended for mature audiences, the show has become famous for its crude language, surreal, satirical, and dark humor that lampoons a wide range of topics...
, Shrek
Shrek
Shrek is a 2001 American computer-animated fantasy comedy film directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson, featuring the voices of Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, and John Lithgow. Loosely based on William Steig's 1990 fairy tale picture book Shrek!...
, Forrest Gump
Forrest Gump
Forrest Gump is a 1994 American epic comedy-drama romance film based on the 1986 novel of the same name by Winston Groom. The film was directed by Robert Zemeckis, starring Tom Hanks, Robin Wright and Gary Sinise...
, The Littlest Hobo
The Littlest Hobo
The Littlest Hobo is a Canadian television series based upon a 1958 American film of the same name directed by Charles R. Rondeau. The series first aired from 1963 to 1965 in syndication, and was revived for a popular second run on CTV from October 11, 1979 to March 7, 1985.All three productions...
and Monk
Monk (TV series)
Monk is an American comedy-drama detective mystery television series created by Andy Breckman and starring Tony Shalhoub as the titular character, Adrian Monk. It originally ran from 2002 to 2009 and is primarily a mystery series, although it has dark and comic touches.The series debuted on July...
, which features Nelson rehearsing the song with his band. On the 1981 album Urban Chipmunk
Urban Chipmunk
Urban Chipmunk was the first country album by Alvin and the Chipmunks, released on February 4, 1981. The title parodies the 1980 movie Urban Cowboy.-Side one:#"Thank God I'm a Country Boy" – 1:43...
, The Chipmunks
The Chipmunks
Alvin and the Chipmunks is an American animated music group created by Ross Bagdasarian, Sr. in 1958. The group consists of three singing animated anthropomorphic chipmunks: Alvin, the mischievous troublemaker, who quickly became the star of the group; Simon, the tall, bespectacled intellectual;...
play a version of the song that complains about the unpleasant demands of being on the road, despite David Seville
Ross Bagdasarian, Jr.
Ross Bagdasarian, Jr. is an Armenian-American film producer, record producer, singer, and voice artist and the son of the Alvin and the Chipmunks creator Ross Bagdasarian, Sr.-Life and career:...
's protests against this unauthorized change. However, the instant he threatens to end their tour and put them back in school, The Chipmunks immediately sing the song properly.
A live version of the song is featured in 2008 video game Guitar Hero: World Tour, while the studio version was released for Rock Band
Rock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
via the Rock Band Country Track Pack.
In 2004, Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
ranked it No. 471 on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
In 2011, "On The Road Again" was inducted to Grammy Hall of Fame.
Parodies and covers
Jerry ReedJerry Reed
Jerry Reed Hubbard , known professionally as Jerry Reed, was an American country music singer, innovative guitarist, songwriter, and actor who appeared in more than a dozen films...
sang part of "On the Road Again" in his hit "The Bird": "The life I love is makin' money with my friend...".
The song was parodied by the comedy musical group Da Yoopers
Da Yoopers
Da Yoopers is a traveling comedy show and musical group from Ishpeming, Mich. They are known primarily for their humorous songs and skits, most of which center around life in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan...
as "Road to Gwinn" (a reference to Gwinn, Michigan
Gwinn, Michigan
Gwinn is an unincorporated community in Marquette County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The community is in Forsyth Township at on M-35 near the forks of the east and middle branches of the Escanaba River. Gwinn is a census-designated place for statistical purposes, and the CDP includes the...
) on their 1986 album Yoopanese. On the 1983 CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
game show
Game show
A game show is a type of radio or television program in which members of the public, television personalities or celebrities, sometimes as part of a team, play a game which involves answering questions or solving puzzles usually for money and/or prizes...
Press Your Luck
Press Your Luck
Press Your Luck is an American television daytime game show created by Bill Carruthers and Jan McCormack. It premiered on September 19, 1983 on CBS and ended on September 26, 1986. In the show, contestants collected "spins" by answering trivia questions and then used the spins on an 18-space game...
, Whammy sings a parody of the song on a horse, singing "Got your bucks again. I can't wait to get your bucks again...". This Whammy animation was used during the final months of the show's run in 1986.
In 2006, the American punk band Me First and the Gimme Gimmes
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes is a punk rock supergroup and cover band that formed in 1995. The Gimmes work exclusively as a cover band. The band is named after a children's book of the same name by Gerald G. Jampolsky and Diane V. Cirincione...
released a cover of this song on their album Love Their Country
Love Their Country
Love Their Country is the fifth studio album, and sixth overall by Me First and the Gimme Gimmes. It was released on October 17, 2006 by Fat Wreck Chords. The album consists of cover versions of country and western songs....
. In 2007, Deana Carter
Deana Carter
Deana Carter is a country music artist who broke through in 1996 with the release of debut album Did I Shave My Legs for This?, which was certified 5× Multi-Platinum in the United States for sales of over five million...
released a new version of the song featuring a duet with Willie Nelson in her album The Chain
The Chain (Deana Carter album)
-Album:-Singles:...
. It was released as single, but failed to land on the chart.
A Swedish version, with lyrics by Keith Almgren
Keith Almgren
Keith Almgren, born 8 November 1957 in Järfälla, Sweden, is a Swedish songwriter and music publisher.Keith Almgren has a solid background and has written over 1400 titles in the register of Stim....
, called "Jag ser mig om" (Eng. "I look around") has been recorded by Anne Kihlström on the album Förgät mig ej in 1984, and also by Paula Jarl on a single and by Bennys on an album in 1987.
Buckcherry
Buckcherry
Buckcherry is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California formed in 1995. The band released two albums, Buckcherry and Time Bomb , before partially dissolving in the summer of 2002. In 2005, lead vocalist Josh Todd and lead guitarist Keith Nelson reformed Buckcherry and released a new album...
covered this song in late 2009.
Conan O'Brien
Conan O'Brien
Conan Christopher O'Brien is an American television host, comedian, writer, producer and performer. Since November 2010 he has hosted Conan, a late-night talk show that airs on the American cable television station TBS....
performs the song as "My Own Show Again" during his 2010 Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television Tour
The Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television Tour
The Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television Tour was a comedy tour featuring Conan O'Brien. The title of the tour is a reference to the 2010 Tonight Show host and timeslot conflict which resulted in O'Brien resigning from his position as host of The Tonight Show in January 2010...
, changing the lyrics to reflect how he can't wait to return to hosting a television series after leaving The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show is an American late-night talk show that has aired on NBC since 1954. It is the longest currently running regularly scheduled entertainment program in the United States, and the third longest-running show on NBC, after Meet the Press and Today.The Tonight Show has been hosted by...
earlier in the year.
See also
- Whitburn, Joel, "Top Country Songs: 1944-2005," 2006.
- Whitburn, Joel, "Top Pop Singles: 1955-2006," 2007.