Today’s song of the day is “Take Me Home Country Roads” by John Denver. The song was written by John Denver, Bill Danoff and Taffy Nivert.
Fun Facts
- Denver released the song as a single on April 12, 1971, and it peaked at number two on Billboard’s US Hot 100 singles chart in August the same year
- The song was a hit upon its first release, earning Gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America on August 18, 1971, and Platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America on April 10, 2017.
- The song quickly rose to prominence as one of John Denver’s most popular. It has maintained a strong following, with more than 1.6 million digital copies sold in the U.S. alone.
- West Virginians responded enthusiastically to “Take Me Home, Country Roads.”
- The song has become synonymous with West Virginia. In March 2014, it was designated as one of West Virginia’s 4 official state anthems.
- The West Virginia Tourism Office issued a statement on November 1, 2017 that it had acquired the rights to use the song in its marketing activities.
- The song is also performed at other sporting events and university gatherings, particularly those following football games, when spectators are invited to remain in the stands and sing along with the squad.
- On September 6, 1980, composers Danoff, Nivert, and Denver performed the song amid pregame festivities for a sold-out audience of Mountaineer supporters at the request of the then West Virginia Governor, Jay Rockefeller.
- The song was performed at West Virginia Senator Robert Byrd’s funeral on July 2, 2010 at the state capital in Charleston, West Virginia.
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