Of Owl and Bear: The Tragic and Glorious Story of Canned Heat | Ultimate Guitar

About the Song 

Canned Heat is an American blues rock band formed in 1965. Their music combined elements of blues, boogie woogie, rock and roll, and R&B, creating a unique and exciting style. On The Road Again is one of Canned Heat’s most famous songs, first released in 1968 on the album Boogie with Canned Heat.

On The Road Again is a classic blues song with a fast and upbeat tempo. The song was written by Floyd Jones, an American blues musician, and was re-recorded by Canned Heat with some changes. Canned Heat’s version features a distinctive blues guitar riff and the powerful, soulful vocals of Bob Hite, the band’s lead singer.

The lyrics of On The Road Again tell the story of a blues musician traveling all over the country. The singer sings about the hardships and challenges of life on the road, but also expresses his passion and love for music.

On The Road Again has become a beloved song by many generations of music listeners. The song has been covered by many different artists, including Willie Nelson, John Mayall, and Eric Clapton.

Canned Heat performed On The Road Again at many venues around the world, including the Woodstock Music and Art Fair in 1969. The song has become an important part of rock and roll and blues music culture.

Here are some reasons why On The Road Again is a famous song:

  • Fast and upbeat tempo: The song has a classic blues tempo that makes people want to dance and sing along.
  • Distinctive blues guitar riff: The guitar riff in the song is very memorable and creates a great blues atmosphere.
  • Powerful, soulful vocals of Bob Hite: Bob Hite sings the song with a lot of emotion, making the listener feel his passion and love for music.
  • Meaningful lyrics: The lyrics of the song tell the story of a traveling blues musician, a topic that many people can relate to.

On The Road Again is a classic blues rock song with a fast, upbeat tempo and meaningful lyrics. The song has become an important part of rock and roll and blues music culture, and is loved by many generations of music listeners.

Canned Heat: the 10 best songs from America's greatest boogie band | Louder

Video

Lyrics: On The Road Again

Well, I’m so tired of crying
But I’m out on the road again
I’m on the road again
Well, I’m so tired of crying
But I’m out on the road again
I’m on the road againI ain’t got no woman
Just to call my special friendYou know the first time I traveled
Out in the rain and snow
In the rain and snow
You know the first time I traveled
Out in the rain and snow
In the rain and snow

I didn’t have no payroll
Not even no place to go

And my dear mother left me
When I was quite young
When I was quite young
And my dear mother left me
When I was quite young
When I was quite young

She said, “Lord, have mercy
On my wicked son.”

Take a hint from me, mama
Please don’t you cry no more
Don’t you cry no more
Take a hint from me, mama
Please don’t you cry no more
Don’t you cry no more

‘Cause it’s soon one morning
Down the road I’m going

But I ain’t going down
That long old lonesome road
All by myself
But I ain’t going down
That long old lonesome road
All by myself

I can’t carry you, baby
Gonna carry somebody else

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Dolly Parton turned a simple handmade coat into one of the most powerful songs of her life because to her, it was never really about the fabric. “Coat of Many Colors” sprang directly from Dolly’s growing-up years in East Tennessee. Her mother, Avie Lee, pieced the jacket together by sewing colorful rags the family already owned. Cash was mighty tight, so there was no running down to the store for brand-new clothes. Instead, Avie Lee took what was on hand and stitched together something warm for her little girl to wear. While the needle flew, she shared the Bible story of Joseph and his coat of many colors, turning an ordinary piece of clothing into something special in Dolly’s eyes. Proudly wearing that coat to school, Dolly felt rich, but the other kids saw it differently. They laughed at the patches and teased her for having so little. Years down the road, Dolly penned those childhood memories into “Coat of Many Colors.” Released in 1971, the tune became a shining example of why her songwriting touched so many souls. She never tried to hide hard times or dress up her youth to look prettier than it was. She simply laid the sting of teasing side-by-side with the deep love that stitched the coat together, letting that honest truth speak for itself. The song eventually grew far beyond that original vinyl record. Its spirit inspired the 2015 television movie Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors, followed by Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love the very next year. Those films opened a window into Dolly’s mountain home, introducing folks to the hardworking parents and siblings who shaped her long before the bright lights found her. By then, Dolly had worn glittering stage gowns worth more than her family could ever have dreamed. Yet the garment folks remember best remains that humble little coat stitched by a mother’s loving hands when buying something new simply wasn’t in the cards. That is why the memory stayed alive. The scraps faded away, but the lesson underneath never did.