What songs can i use for this themed mix-cd?
February 2, 2012 10:19 AM   Subscribe

Greetings Hive Mind. So, this year, i got a job that involves being away from a lot. This means that i don't get to spend nearly as much time with my wife as i used to. To this end, I want to make a mixtape for my wife for Valenties day of songs with a theme like "I'm on the road a lot," only I haven't really been able to come up with much.
posted by frmrpreztaft to Media & Arts (53 answers total) 7 users marked this as a favorite
 
maybe Powderfinger - My Happiness?
posted by unlaced at 10:23 AM on February 2, 2012




First Train Home - Imogen Heap.
posted by wingless_angel at 10:26 AM on February 2, 2012


Can't find a great link but Six Days on the Road is a classic in this genre. I like the Flying Burrito Brothers version best, personally.
posted by kris.reiss at 10:27 AM on February 2, 2012


Dire Straits: So Far Away
Bright Eyes: The First Day Of My Life
Arcade Fire: Cars and Telephones (note: I'm not sure if this is a suicide song or a song about being sad about distance)
Cowboy Junkies: Lost my Driving Wheel
posted by gauche at 10:27 AM on February 2, 2012


Lonestar - I'm Already There
posted by royalsong at 10:27 AM on February 2, 2012


A little on the older side:
The Box Tops: The Letter
Steve Miller Band: Jet Airliner
Willie Nelson: On the Road again

Also, the minor typo in your question made me happy alot.
posted by bessel functions seem unnecessarily complicated at 10:28 AM on February 2, 2012


It had to be said: Journey - Faithfully
posted by cairdeas at 10:28 AM on February 2, 2012 [5 favorites]




The Postal Service - Such Great Heights (or any of the covers if you like them better)
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - Home
Duvall - Racine
posted by burnmp3s at 10:30 AM on February 2, 2012


Hahaha, I came in to apologize for offering up "Faithfully" but cairdeas beat me to it.
posted by Glinn at 10:31 AM on February 2, 2012 [1 favorite]


Ooo, ooo, ooo! Old Crow Medicine Show, Wagon Wheel.
posted by tully_monster at 10:31 AM on February 2, 2012 [1 favorite]


Oh yes I did: John Denver, "Country Roads"
posted by Beardman at 10:31 AM on February 2, 2012


Carole King, "So Far Away."
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:32 AM on February 2, 2012 [1 favorite]


Oh, yeah, and David Bowie, "Space Oddity." You know, the saga of Major Tom.
posted by tully_monster at 10:35 AM on February 2, 2012


My similar mixtape included Billy Joel's Downeaster Alexa and Simon and Garfunkel's Homeward Bound.
posted by tchemgrrl at 10:37 AM on February 2, 2012


Bon Jovi, "Wanted Dead or Alive"
Bob Seger, "Turn the Page"
Wyclef Jean, "Gone 'Til November"
Elton John, "Daniel"
Plain White Ts, "Hey There Delilah"
posted by argonauta at 10:42 AM on February 2, 2012 [1 favorite]


Magnetic Fields, Come Back from San Francisco. Kinda.
posted by penduluum at 10:44 AM on February 2, 2012


Cass McCombs - County Line
posted by carsonb at 10:52 AM on February 2, 2012


Driving by Sibylle Baier
posted by Katine at 10:53 AM on February 2, 2012


Death Cab for Cutie - Transatlanticism
posted by Jeff Morris at 10:53 AM on February 2, 2012


Cornershop, "Good to Be on the Road Back Home Again"
Cracker, "Been Around the World"
posted by dlugoczaj at 10:53 AM on February 2, 2012 [1 favorite]


Robert Earl Keen - I'm Comin' Home
posted by BobbyVan at 10:55 AM on February 2, 2012


Oh my God, best one ever: The Lucksmiths, Guess How Much I Love You.
posted by penduluum at 10:57 AM on February 2, 2012


Oh, forgot, Kid Rock, "What I Learned Out on the Road"

("I've Been Everywhere"--recorded by a bunch of folks but most notably, in my book, by Johnny Cash--doesn't have as much of the "girl back home" feel as the others I'm seeing, but it's a great fun song about traveling a lot.)
posted by dlugoczaj at 10:58 AM on February 2, 2012


Billy Joel, "You're My Home".
posted by Lulu's Pink Converse at 11:04 AM on February 2, 2012


Mos Def - Travellin' Man
posted by KGMoney at 11:06 AM on February 2, 2012


Johnny Cash -- 'Cause I Love You

Yeah Yeah Yeahs -- Maps and/or Miles Away

Modest Mouse -- Trucker's Atlas
posted by sugarbomb at 11:12 AM on February 2, 2012


"Plane" by Jason Mraz immediately came to mind.
posted by BrianJ at 11:19 AM on February 2, 2012


Willie Nelson - You Were Always on My Mind
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Maps
Bobby Darin- Beyond the Sea

The first two are rather bittersweet. The lyrics to "Maps" are a little opaque, but I seem to recall that the song sprung from Karen O, the YYY's lead singer, sitting with a bunch of maps with her musician boyfriend as he planned a tour. She wrote the song about how much she wanted to tell him to stay with her.
posted by Clambone at 11:23 AM on February 2, 2012


Ani DiFranco, "You Had Time"
nthing Willie Nelson with "You Were Always on my Mind," what a great song.
posted by Snarl Furillo at 11:28 AM on February 2, 2012


42 Miles by Cross Canadian Ragweed
Highway Girl by The Tragically Hip (the linked YT version has a weird Jim Morisonesque rant that the studio version is better off without)
posted by workerant at 11:29 AM on February 2, 2012


Two more from Cowboy Junkies:

200 More Miles

Miles from Home
posted by vers at 11:39 AM on February 2, 2012


Royal Station 4/16 by Melissa Etheridge
Shore Leave by Tom Waits
posted by CBrachyrhynchos at 11:42 AM on February 2, 2012


Super Trouper - ABBA
The Load Out/Stay - Jackson Browne
posted by SisterHavana at 11:46 AM on February 2, 2012


Callin' Baton Rouge - Garth Brooks
If My Heart Had Wings - Faith Hill

Maybe "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" by the Proclaimers?
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 11:55 AM on February 2, 2012


I love Chantal Kreviazuk's version of Leaving on a Jet Plane, which seems like an obvious one to me. It is on the Armageddon soundtrack if you are looking to buy it.
posted by Rock Steady at 11:56 AM on February 2, 2012 [1 favorite]


My first thought was Glen Campbell, Wichita Lineman. Depends if you are going for sad and wistful (which this is) or more upbeat "looking forward to coming home soon" vibe.
posted by LobsterMitten at 12:06 PM on February 2, 2012


I wish that I could see you soon – Herman Dune
Waving my Dick in the Wind – Ween
Favorite Song – KaiserCartel
London Still – the Waifs
Blue Savannah – Erasure
All My Lovin' – I like the Me First and the Gimme Gimmies version. Ditto for Leaving on a Jet Plane.
Flyball's Lament (original by The Great Big Mulp)
Flyball's Lament (cover by ORthey)
Amarillo by Morning – George Strait

Bonus track! Not so much an "on the road" song, but rather a miss you so much it hurts: "Baby it's been so long that even the roses' hips are turnin' me on"Fuego!, Murder by Death
posted by iamkimiam at 12:07 PM on February 2, 2012


Billy Joel - Travelin' Prayer (the song sounds like its more about her traveling than you, but I think it suits the theme)
posted by juliplease at 12:53 PM on February 2, 2012




The Coming Rains and Live on My Mind (both by Bruce Cockburn) fit the bill.
posted by richyoung at 1:13 PM on February 2, 2012


Roadworn and Weary - Supersuckers
posted by misteraitch at 1:47 PM on February 2, 2012


Response by poster: Leave it to the Hive Mind. This is great!

Keep em' coming!
posted by frmrpreztaft at 2:12 PM on February 2, 2012


Carrying Your Love With Me -- George Strait
posted by Erasmouse at 3:32 PM on February 2, 2012


Transatlanticism - Death Cab for Cutie
Birds & Ships - Billy Bragg & Wilco
Middle Distance Runner - Sea Wolf
Leaving - Indigo Girls
Million Miles - Mirah
posted by sonika at 3:39 PM on February 2, 2012


Radar Love - Golden Earring
posted by Coaticass at 4:35 PM on February 2, 2012


1000 miles away -- Hoodoo Gurus
posted by kovacs at 4:35 PM on February 2, 2012


In the flesh - Blondie
posted by Coaticass at 4:44 PM on February 2, 2012


Just heard this one on the radio...

"Home" by Daughtry
posted by hootenatty at 6:04 PM on February 2, 2012


Long Haul Driver by Luke Doucet

I am a long haul driver
And I'm leaving at dawn
Don't think that I will see you
So I'll leave the porchlight on
Oh yeah

posted by platinum at 3:02 AM on February 3, 2012


Hayden's "Home By Saturday", that Postal Service earworm "Such Great Heights"...
posted by ifjuly at 6:06 AM on February 3, 2012


Danko Jones (who spend a ludicrous amount of time on the road every year) have several songs related to this. I'd suggest no to Code of the Road and yes to Take Me Home.

When my sweetie's out of town "Take Me Home" makes me all weepy. So grab the keys / Start the car / Take me home to where my records are / Hit the gas / Take the open road / I'm turning on the stereo first thing when I get home… I've had enough, now take me home.
posted by Lexica at 6:36 PM on February 4, 2012


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