John Mayall is often referred to as the "Father of the British blues." His well-known band is still called John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers. They started out in the late 1950s in England, using Chicago style blues as a starting basis for their sound, which has evolved from album to album. And while at one point John Mayall was playing a fairly jazzy sound, he has always come back to the blues.
One of the interesting features of the Bluesbreakers is that members have changed on a very regular basis, and many have gone on to well deserved fame and fortune with other bands and as solo acts. Past members include: Eric Clapton, and Jack Bruce, (also of Cream), Peter Green, John McVie, Mick Fleetwood, and Mick Taylor, (who went on to a five -year stint with the Stones.) The studio album recorded with Clapton, entitled John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers, was recorded in 1966, and is widely considered to be one of the great classic blues albums on either side of the stormy Atlantic. Cream came round right after.
John Mayall stands out for several reasons - his standing up for the blues, while experimenting with different approaches, his ability to attract the best of musicians; and perhaps most notably his willingness to work with musicians who far outshine him in sheer ability. And he himself sounds very good!
From:Wikipedia
Country Road
John Mayall Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Blue ridge mountains
Shenandoah river -
Life is old there
Older than the trees
Younger than the mountains
Growin like a breeze
To the place I belong
West virginia, mountain momma
Take me home, Country Roads
All my memories gathered round her
Miners lady, stranger to blue water
Dark and dusty, painted on the sky
Misty taste of moonshine
Teardrops in my eye
Country Roads, take me home
To the place I belong
West virginia, mountain momma
Take me home, Country Roads
I hear her voice
In the mornin hour she calls me
The radio reminds me of my home far away
And drivin down the road I get a feelin
That I should have been home yesterday, yesterday
Country Roads, take me home
To the place I belong
West virginia, mountain momma
Take me home, Country Roads
Country Roads, take me home
To the place I belong
West virginia, mountain momma
Take me home, Country Roads
Take me home, now Country Roads
Take me home, now Country Roads
John Mayall's song "Country Road" is a nostalgic tribute to West Virginia, a place where he feels at home. The opening lines of the song refer to the state's breathtaking natural beauty, particularly the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah River. Mayall uses clever imagery to describe the region as "older than the trees, younger than the mountains," emphasizing the paradoxical nature of the state's longevity and growth. The use of the phrase "growin like a breeze" also suggests both continuity and fluidity.
Mayall's chorus, "Country Roads, take me home, to the place I belong, West Virginia, mountain momma, take me home, Country Roads," expresses a deep longing for a return to his roots. His memories of West Virginia are deeply ingrained, as he reminisces about times spent with the "Miners lady, stranger to blue water" and the "misty taste of moonshine" that brings tears to his eyes. Mayall later hears her voice that reminds him of his home, "In the mornin hour she calls me, The radio reminds me of my home far away," before lamenting that he has not been home for a long enough time as he drives down the road.
In essence, the lyrics speak to the universal longing for a place that feels safe and familiar, and for the memories and people that make it feel that way.
Line by Line Meaning
Almost heaven, west virginia
West Virginia is so beautiful that it could almost be heaven.
Blue ridge mountains
The Blue Ridge Mountains are a prominent feature of the West Virginia landscape.
Shenandoah river -
The Shenandoah River is a major river in West Virginia.
Life is old there
The way of life in West Virginia is traditional and has been around for a long time.
Older than the trees
The way of life in West Virginia is so old that it predates even the trees.
Younger than the mountains
But even though it is old, it is still younger than the mountains that have been there for ages.
Growin like a breeze
Despite its age, the way of life in West Virginia is still growing and expanding.
Country Roads, take me home
The artist wants to return to West Virginia.
To the place I belong
West Virginia is his true home.
West virginia, mountain momma
The artist refers to West Virginia as a motherly figure because it is nurturing and comforting to him.
All my memories gathered round her
The singer has many fond memories of West Virginia.
Miners lady, stranger to blue water
The artist remembers the hardworking women who were involved in the mining industry in West Virginia, and also notes that the state is not known for its blue water.
Dark and dusty, painted on the sky
The scenery in West Virginia is often dark and dusty, but still beautiful.
Misty taste of moonshine
The singer reminisces about drinking moonshine, a traditional West Virginia beverage.
Teardrops in my eye
The singer is emotional thinking about how much he misses West Virginia.
I hear her voice
The artist feels as though he can hear West Virginia calling to him.
In the mornin hour she calls me
This voice is most audible to the artist in the morning.
The radio reminds me of my home far away
The singer hears songs on the radio that remind him of West Virginia.
And drivin down the road I get a feelin
While driving, the singer gets a sense that he should be back in West Virginia.
That I should have been home yesterday, yesterday
The artist regrets not being in West Virginia sooner, as he feels he has missed out on time there.
Take me home, now Country Roads
The artist implores the country roads to take him back home to West Virginia as soon as possible.
Writer(s): John Mayall
Contributed by Dominic I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.