Roch Voisine was born in Edmundston, New Brunswick, but grew up in Saint Basile. His parents are Réal Voisine, mayor of Notre-Dame-du-Lac, Québec and a former English teacher, and Zélande Robichaud, a former nurse.
Voisine's musical breakthrough came with his 1989 album Hélène which sold three million copies and became a major hit not only in Quebec but also in France, Belgium and Switzerland. In 1990, Hélène was awarded the Best Album prize at the the Victoires de la Musique, France's version of Grammys. After a highly successful European Tour in 1991, he was awarded France's Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.
In 1993, Voisine had his biggest English-language hit to date with the single and album both entitled I'll Always Be There, which he worked on with David Foster.
Over the years, he has continued to alternatively record both French and English-language albums. His French language work and concert tours have continued to enjoy success in Europe (especially France) and Quebec, while his English-language recordings are a frequent mainstay of Canadian Adult Contemporary radio.
Take Me Home Country Roads
Roch Voisine 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
The lyrics of Roch Voisine's song Take Me Home Country Roads essentially celebrate the natural beauty and nostalgia associated with life in West Virginia. The song is composed in a free verse style and the opening lines immediately evoke imagery of West Virginia - "Almost heaven, West Virginia, Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River." The lyrics craft an image of a serene landscape, untouched by modernization, where the only sound is the rustling of leaves in the breeze. Furthermore, the lyrics highlight the age-old charm of West Virginia, "Life is old there, older than the trees, younger than the mountains growing like a breeze."
The chorus then enters, and the singer yearns to be taken back to his home in West Virginia. He yearns for the "country roads" to take him back where he belongs, and he appeals to the "mountain mamma" to "take him home." The song speaks to the personal connection one can have to their homeplace, bringing together past memories of blue waters, moonshine, and teardrops in one's eyes. The second verse reveals just how much the singer misses his home, as he hears his homeplace's voice in the morning hour, and the radio reminds him of his home far away.
Line by Line Meaning
Almost heaven, west virginia
West Virginia is a beautiful and almost perfect place to be.
Blue ridge mountains
The mountains of West Virginia, particularly the Blue Ridge ones, are striking and breathtaking.
Shenandoah river -
The Shenandoah River flows freely throughout West Virginia, and is a symbol of natural abundance.
Life is old there
West Virginia has a timeless quality to it that suggests it has seen many years of history.
Older than the trees
Even the trees, which are long-lived by nature, are younger than the history of West Virginia.
Younger than the mountains
Despite being old, West Virginia is still younger than the ancient mountains that have stood there for eons.
Growin like a breeze
West Virginia's culture and way of life are constantly shifting and evolving, just like the wind.
Country roads, take me home
The artist is yearning for the simplicity and beauty of rural life.
To the place I belong
The artist feels a strong sense of belonging to the West Virginia landscape.
West virginia, mountain momma
The mountains of West Virginia are like a nurturing maternal figure that comforts and protects.
All my memories gathered round her
The singer's most cherished memories are tied to their experiences in West Virginia.
Miners lady, stranger to blue water
The people of West Virginia are known for their strong work ethic and mining culture, but the state has little access to ocean or blue water resources.
Dark and dusty, painted on the sky
The landscape of West Virginia can be both stark and beautiful, with the sky creating a canvas for these natural wonders.
Misty taste of moonshine
Moonshine, a type of homemade alcohol, is often associated with West Virginia, and has a distinct taste and smell.
Teardrops in my eye
The singer is moved to tears by the memories and emotions evoked by West Virginia.
I hear her voice
The artist thinks of West Virginia as a living entity with a voice.
In the mornin hour she calls me
The artist feels a pull towards West Virginia and feels it calling to them, particularly in the morning when they may be more reflective.
The radio reminds me of my home far away
Even when the singer is far from West Virginia, they are reminded of it through music and other media.
And drivin down the road I get a feelin
The singer feels a sense of longing and nostalgia when they drive through other places, which enhances their longing to return home to West Virginia.
That I should have been home yesterday, yesterday
The artist has been away from West Virginia for too long and regrets not being able to return sooner.
Take me home, now country roads
The artist is begging to be taken back to West Virginia as soon as possible.
Writer(s): JOHN DENVER, TAFFY NIVERT DANOFF, WILLIAM T DANOFF, BILL DANOFF
Contributed by Connor Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.