Randy Fisher performing - Country Roads

Randy Fisher performing "Country Roads" at the Centennial Rodeo Opry in OKC's Historic Stockyards City on the May 31st, 2008

"Take Me Home, Country Roads" is a song written by John Denver, Bill Danoff and Taffy Nivert, and initially recorded by John Denver. It was included on his 1971 breakout album Poems, Prayers and Promises; the single went to #2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.
After many other hit singles, "Take Me Home, Country Roads" remains Denver's signature song.
Denver was heading the bill in December 1970 at Washington, D.C. folk club The Cellar Door; Danoff and Nivert opened for him as a duo named Fat City. After the post-Christmas re-opening night (the booking was for two weeks), the three headed back to their place for an impromptu jam. On the way, Denver's left thumb was broken in an automobile accident. He was taken to the hospital, where a splint was applied. By the time they got back to the house, he was, in his own words, "wired, you know".
Danoff and Nivert then told him about a song that they had been working on for about a month. Inspiration had come while driving to a family reunion of Nivert's relatives in nearby Maryland. To pass the time en route, Danoff had made up a ballad about the little winding roads they were taking. Later, he changed the story to fit that of an artist friend, who used to write to him about the splendors of the West Virginia countryside. The second verse of the tune was a bit risqué -- referring to "naked ladies" -- so the duo reckoned that their song would never get played on the radio.
On his website, Bill Danoff provides the (later discarded) second verse:
In the foothills hidin' from the clouds,
Pink and purple, West Virginia farmhouse.
Naked ladies, men who looked like Christ,
And a dog named Pancho, nibbling on the rice.
They sang the song for Denver and as he recalled, "I flipped." The three stayed up until 6:00 a.m., changing words and moving lines around. When they finished, John announced that the song had to go on his next album.
The song was premiered December 30, 1970, during an encore of Denver's set, the singers reading the words off of a folded piece of paper. This resulted in a five-minute ovation,[citation needed] one of the longest in Cellar Door history. They recorded it in New York City in January 1971.
"Take Me Home, Country Roads" appeared on the LP Poems, Prayers, and Promises and was released as a 45 in the spring of 1971. It broke nationally in mid-April, but moved up the charts very slowly. After several weeks, RCA called John and told him that they were giving up on the single. His response: "No! Keep working on it!" They did, and on August 18 it was certified a million-seller.

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[SusseMedel]

i love this song you're pretty good

[staceydeb]

Hi Dad this is Kendi, that was awesome Go Dad you kicked butt I love you. Now this is Stacey (Joey's sister) you are great. I have watched this video about 10 times tonight. Can't wait to meet you. We are so proud of you. I want to know when you are coming down here to serenade me with one of your songs.

[fansoflin]

Love this song..enjoyed your singing.