The Willie Nelson On The Road Again song was released August 7, 1980. The song won a Grammy Award for Best Country song and several decades later was honored to be selected as one of the three songs to be featured in the “Forever Country Song” as a tribute to the 50th Annual CMA Awards. In Forever Country, Thirty Country artists trade lines on three legendary Country Tunes including Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You,” John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” and Willie Nelson’s “On the Road Again”. This article covers “On the Road Again” and you may follow the links to view Forever Country and the original performances of the other Country classics included in the Forever Country song.
This song reached #1 on the Billboard Country Singles chart on November 8, 1980 and was added to the Grammy Hall of Fame on December 7, 2010.
Enjoy listening to the official audio video of On the Road Again, watch a live performance, and check out the lyrics below.
Willie Nelson On the Road Again Music Video
Willie Nelson’s Live Performance of On the Road Again at the Grand Ole Opry
In 1980 Willie Nelson starred a leading role in the film Honeysuckle Rose that is about an aging musician who fails to achieve national fame and travels with his band playing a variety of venues across the U.S. The song “On the Road Again” was written by Willie Nelson for the soundtrack of Honeysuckle Rose. The story behind “On the Road Again” is as legendary as the song itself. In 1979, Willie Nelson was approached to star in the movie Honeysuckle Rose, a film about a country singer balancing life on tour with personal relationships. During a conversation about the film’s soundtrack, producers asked Nelson if he could write a song about touring. Without hesitation, Nelson responded, “What do you want the song to say?” When they told him it should be about being on the road, he quickly jotted down the lyrics on an airplane barf bag—a true testament to his songwriting genius.
Check out the lyrics below.
Willie Nelson On The Road Again Lyrics
On the road again
Just can’t wait to get on the road again
The life I love is making music with my friends
And I can’t wait to get on the road again
On the road again
Goin’ places that I’ve never been
Seein’ things that I may never see again
And I can’t wait to get on the road again
On the road again
Like a band of gypsies we go down the highway
We’re the best of friends
Insisting that the world keep turning our way
And our way
Is on the road again
Just can’t wait to get on the road again
The life I love is makin’ music with my friends
And I can’t wait to get on the road again
On the road again
Like a band of gypsies we go down the highway
We’re the best of friends
Insisting that the world keep turning our way
And our way
Is on the road again
Just can’t wait to get on the road again
The life I love is makin’ music with my friends
And I can’t wait to get on the road again
And I can’t wait to get on the road again
Beyond its success in the country music world, “On the Road Again” has found a place in American pop culture. It has been used in films like Forrest Gump and Shrek, as well as in political campaigns and sports events. The song’s universal theme of travel and freedom makes it relatable to audiences of all backgrounds.
Remember to “share” the Willie Nelson On the Road Again music video with other Country Music fans!
