The Ultimate Travel Playlist of lesser-known songs

Music and travel always go hand in hand, or earphones in the ear if I may. Whether one is in the hills, or beside the sea, or on a road trip, music always makes us keep going, makes us keep exploring. All of us have a few personal favorites when it comes to travel songs, be it in English, like Thunderstruck by AC/DC or Take it Easy by The Eagles. Or in Hindi, like Aao Milo Chalo from Jab We Met and Ilahi from Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani. And many more like these. We all love these songs and we groove in the tunes of these, even sing along when traveling.

So on this World Music Day, let me present this list in which I have tried to include some lesser-known songs in English, as being Indians we almost know most of the songs in Hindi. This is a personal favorite list of mine. I discovered these hidden gems from movie soundtracks and general internet surfing. I am sure if you listen to these, you’ll like at least a few. So let us begin. 1. King of the Road by Roger Miller

It was released in 1965 by American singer-songwriter and actor Roger Miller as a single first, then as a part of his second studio album The Return of Roger Miller. The song is about a vagabond who calls himself ‘The King of the Road’ as he is always on the go, always traveling. In this song, he describes all the measures he takes in order to survive on the road. I first got to listen to this song in the movie Into the Wild as a background song. Also, a line from the song was used by Chris McCandless to describe him. It has a honky-tonk kind of sound and has a feel-good factor in it.

2. The Road Goes On Forever by Robert Earl Keen

It is a perfect example of storytelling in a song. It was released in the year 1989 by Texas-based folk singer-songwriter Robert Earl Keen in his second studio album West Textures. It tells the story of two lovers Sunny and Sherri who are sort of against the world and what happens to them as the consequence of their actions. Yet another groovy country song which will surely make you tap your feet. 3. Highwayman by The Highwaymen

The year was 1985. The Highwaymen, a country supergroup released their first studio album of the same name. The group comprised of legends like Kris Kristofferson, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Willie Nelson. Highwayman was the first song of this album. The song was originally written by American songwriter Jimmy Webb. And this song was actually the inspiration behind the creation of the band. It talks about a soul that gets reincarnated in four different eras and with four different professions and how its journey goes on.

4. Long White Cadillac by Dwight Yoakam

American country singer Dwight Yoakam re-recorded this fantastic song in the year 1989. The song was originally written by Dave Alvin of The Blasters. It’s a country song with a touch of psychedelic and an amazing guitar riff. The song deals with a man complaining about his fate and blames certain things but ultimately him. Though it has a negative touch to it, Yoakam’s version indeed makes it a good listen.

5. Rivers and Roads by The Head and the Heart

American folk band The Head and the Heart self-released their first album from which this song is. Later by word of mouth and because of their brilliant harmonical music their album of the same name as their band got re-released by the label Sub Pop in 2011. This song deals with friendship and separation and how one can cross rivers and roads to see their loved ones which makes it a perfect homecoming song. The song was also used in hit TV shows Chuck and How I Met Your Mother.

6. Going Up the Country by Canned Heat

Going Up the Country is a song adapted and recorded by American blues-rock band Canned Heat in their third studio album Living the Blues in 1968. It was called a "rural hippie anthem" and became one of the band's biggest hits and best-known songs. The song was adapted from a 1920s blues song and sung in a countertenor-style by Alan Wilson. The song was used in the movies Woodstock and Into the Wild. It talks about just getting up and leaving for the trip, and just to follow the road without thinking of the destination. It certainly is a motivation to go for our long-awaited dream trip.

7. Imaginary Bars by Great Lake Swimmers

This hidden gem of a song is by Canadian folk-rock band Great Lake Swimmers. They released it in their album Bodies and Minds in 2005. Even though it is a small track, it talks about how we keep ourselves reserved in our daily lives and suppress our dreams and wishes whereas there’s plenty of a chance for us to live our dreams. It is like living in a prison with imaginary bars. We just need to free our minds. This song was used in the movie One Week where I first found it. And about One Week, it is a must-watch travel movie!

8. Long Trip Alone by Dierks Bentley

From the album of the same name, this song was released by American country music singer Dierks Bentley in the year 2006. It basically talks about the journey of life where we all need a companion who can be a loved one or God. According to Bentley’s wife, he started writing the song for her but in the end, it turned out somewhat gospel-ish. But the song is melodious indeed, perfect to listen to while sitting on the window seat of the train, sipping some hot tea or coffee and looking out admiring the journey.

9. Late Goodbye by Poets of the Fall

Well, this is not a lesser-known song, at least for the gamers. This song by Finnish rock band Poets of the Fall features in the end credits of the 2003 video game Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne. It also featured on their debut album Signs of Life. Fans have interpreted this song in different ways, from the game’s perspective and also in a way that tells the story of a man running away from his troubles. I see it as going away for a trip to get a break from our day to day not so happening life.

10. No Ceiling by Eddie Vedder

Okay, all the songs from the soundtrack of Into the Wild are beautiful and perfect travel songs. But I love this one the most because it has a sense of going away in search of one’s own self with a promise to return. We know that travel, especially solo travel makes us know ourselves more. There are things about us which we might not know and can get to know while traveling. Travel helps us grow mature and wise. And this song portrays the same thing. It tells us to get up, explore, observe, understand, and return with experiences of a lifetime.

Album covers taken from the internet.