Get into the mood
 Songs about travel
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| What is a travel song? |
Birthplace to Rock and Rock and a multitude of music legends, America has always been an inspiration to musicians and songwriters. It's not all soppy and patriotic music, with many songs capturing an under-current of discontent and social issues. Other travel songs just make you want to jump in an old beat up car and drive from coast to coast - and back again. We've also included a few tracks that feature the area south of the border.
NEW YORK
New York, New York - Frank Sinatra
A classic farewell song for anyone heading to the Big Apple: 'Start spreading the news. I'm leaving today...'
New York groove - Ace Frehley (or Hello)
The track for anyone returning to New York or hooked on its pleasures.
New York state of mind - Billy Joel
While this song is more about love than New York, it still captures a reflective mood and the feeling of being outdoors on a warm summer 's night in New York.
A few more about New York
- An Englishman in New York - Godley & Creme
- Coney Island Baby - Tom Waits
- Coney Island Girl - Fun Lovin' Criminals
- Dirty Boulevard – Lou Reed
- First We Take Manhattan - Leonard Cohen
- Natalie Merchant - Carnival -
- New York - Rhubarb
- New York - U2
- New York City - They Might Be Giants
- New York City - T-Rex
- New York, New York - Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
- New York, New York - Ryan Adams
- NY - Doves
- Shattered - Rolling Stones
- Talkin' New York - Bob Dylan
- The Brooklyn Bridge Blues - Eric Anderson
- The Ramones - Rockaway Beach
- Walking Down Madison - Kirsty MacColl
- You Said Something - PJ Harvey
Born in the USA - Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen's iconic song captures the delimna of feeling let down by the country he loves.
American Girl - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
More about leaving than travelling, this song captures the spirit of why some people find themselves on the road.
Back in the USA - Chuck Berry
The classic from Berry talks about what he misses when away from the USA 'Did I miss the skyscrapers, did I miss the long freeway?'
LA Woman - The Doors
Is it a song about LA or one particular LA woman? Doesn't matter, a great travel song for visiting the City of Angels.
Say goodbye to Hollywood - Billy Joel
Sometimes you just have to move on.
California - Joni Mitchell
A great song about longing for home after you've been on the road a bit too long.
California Girls - The Beach Boys
A famous song about the West coast's tanned beauties
Sweet Home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynyrd
Music from the southern USA and a great song for any road trip.
Me and You and a Dog Named Boo - Lobo
A classic song from the early 70s about giving up your life and 'travelling and living off the land'.
Kids In America - Kim Wilde (and others)
We're not sure sure what they had against the west coast with the line 'New York to East California', but it doesn't matter. There are also a few cover versions around.
Route 66 - Rolling Stones
Alas, the old Route 66 from Chicago to LA is slowly fading piece by piece, but for anyone on a road trip in the US, this is the song to take.
Even more to add to your playlist
- Callin' you (theme from Bagdad Cafe)
- America - Simon & Garfunkel
- Surfin USA - Beach Boys
- California sun - Riverias
- Summertime USA - The Pixies Three
- Hotel California - The Eagles
- Kokomo - The Beach Boys
- Amerika - Rammstein
- US forces - Midnight Oil
- I'm afraid of Americans - David Bowie
- Put your hands up for Detroit - Freddy La Grande
- Song of Blue Hawaii - Elvis Presley
- Hawaii - Beach Boys
- Hawaii - The Strokes
- American pie - Don Mclean
- Streets of Philadelphia - Bruce Springsteen
- Theme from Miami Vice - Jan Hammer
- Detroit rock city - Kiss
- Sweet home Chicago - The Blues Brothers Soundtrack
- I left my heart in San Francisco
- LA international airport
- House of the rising sun - The Animals
- Viva Las Vegas - Elvis Presley
- Roadhouse blues - The Doors
- Living in America - James Brown
- Breakfast in America - Supertramp
- It came to America - Neil Diamond
- Mexican moon - Concrete Blonde
- Mexican radio - Wall of Voodoo
- The girl from Ipanema - Antonio Carlos Jobim