Soundtrack to a Road Trip

Ten years ago (man, where does the time go?) my friend Rebecca and I embarked on a journey south.  Out on our for the first time, we took our first road trip.  It was August and we drove to Athens, Georgia.  It was hot and sticky, but somehow that added to the adventure.  As we meandered along the Blue Ridge Mountains, our eyes opened to new territory we saw.  There were moments of chaos, absolute hilarity and extreme heat.  Through the long hours on the road, we listened to music - mix tapes given to us and created by ourselves, our favorite albums, local radio.  Certain songs became the anthems of our journey.  We visited records shops, the setting of an R.E.M. video and even saw Robyn Hitchcock perform.  Music was a central them.  We enjoyed ourselves so much, we made plans for the next road trip, the next dozen road trips we were going to take together. 

After that summer, college began and our lives developed.  Somehow the next road trip never materialized ... until this year.  A plan was formed -  visiting a friend in Ohio, taking the great adventure west.  This time, youthful exuberance gave way to mature pragmatism and we flew out.  Hours on the road when work didn't sound as exciting with a work week ahead.  But in my head, the trip still counts as a road trip.

I tried to remember the crucial songs from our original  trip. Songs we sang along with, and completely exhausted.  But for some reason, only a couple came to mind.  I suppose it's best that way.  It was a moment in time.  The memories are so precious that anything infringing on them might feel cheap.  So I decided to create a new road trip soundtrack, with a nod to the original.  This one would bridge the memories and build new ones.  And even though we weren't on the road (let's face it, there are very few good songs about flying), it was a journey nonetheless. 

1. On the Road Again - Willie Nelson
2. Road To Nowhere - Talking Heads
3. American Music - Violent Femmes
4. Bloodbuzz Ohio - The National
5. The Passenger - Iggy Pop
6. Drive - The Wedding Present
7. Go Lil' Camaro Go - Ramones
8. Driving Aloud - Robyn Hitchcock & The Egyptians
9. Keep The Car Running - The Arcade Fire
10. Turn It Up or Turn It Off - Drivin 'N' Cryin
11. Vamos - Pixies
12. Take You On A Cruise - Interpol
13. 25 Miles - Edwin Spear
14. Graffiti - Throwing Muses
15. Carry Me Ohio - Sun Kil Moon
16. America - David Bowie
17. Beautiful Calm Driving - Sia
18. Lost My Driving Wheel - Cowboy Junkies
19. Road - Nick Drake
20. King Of The Road - R.E.M.

Comments

[Rebecca]

It was so great to share this journey and the memories with you and, even better, make fun new ones along the way. I can't wait until we're reminiscing about this trip twenty years from now! WE ARE REALLY GOING TO DO THIS!!!!

P.S. Thanks for making me 28 again! :)

[Johanna Wood]

I thought of one more (if you have it!)

This Wheel's on Fire (Siouxsie and the Banshees)

[Florence Wang Designs]

Oh, that's perfect. I can't believe I didn't think of it!