“Mother of the Roads”, “the main street of the USA”, “the most famous highway in the world” – this is the name of the legendary Highway 66, stretching for four thousand kilometers across eight American states. Since the middle of the twentieth century, the famous road has been mentioned in musical and literary works, art paintings, television series and even cartoons.
And the excitement began with the jazz standard (Get Your Knicks On) Route 66.
Story of the song “Route 66”
The composition was written in 1946 by American musician Bobby Troup. The idea came about when he was driving with his first wife, Cynthia, to Los Angeles from Pennsylvania. Traup went to California to try his luck as a Hollywood songwriter.
The couple got into a 1941 Buick and drove onto Highway 40. It was this highway that Bobby wanted to dedicate the future composition to, but then Cynthia prompted him to switch to Highway 66.
Troup recalled that the song’s melody and the phrase “get your kicks on Route 66” were born very quickly, but the rest of the lyrics had to suffer pretty much. Bobby composed them throughout the ten days of the trip, mentioning most of the cities they stopped in.
Route 66 Song Artists
Route 66 was first recorded by Nat King Cole. His record, published in 1946, hit the Billboard charts and became a major hit.
In 1961, the song was performed by the legendary Chuck Berry.
Inspired by an old Chuck track, The Rolling Stones released their version of Route 66 in 1964. Let’s listen to the Rolling Stones version.
In 1987, Depeche Mode also pleased music lovers with a cover of Route 66. I suggest watching the music video and listening to the song “Route 66” online.
Subsequently, the song was recorded by dozens of different musicians, so it is known to fans of all genres.
Listen to Route 66 by Glenn Frey.
Interesting Facts
- There was no Kansas city in the lyrics to (Get Your Knicks On) Route 66.
- The 1983 Grammy-winning cover by The Manhattan Transfer is featured in Sharky’s Crew.
- Pixar’s Cars soundtrack includes versions by Chuck Berry and John Mayer.
- It was often played by Soviet and Russian jazzmen.
Get Your Knicks On Route 66 lyrics
If you ever plan to motor west
travel my way,
Take the highway that is the best
Get your kicks on Route sixty six
It winds from Chicago to LA
More than two thousand miles all the way
Get your kicks on Route sixty six
Now you go through Saint Looey
Joplin, Missouri
And Oklahoma City is mighty pretty
You see Amarillo
Gallup, New Mexico
Flagstaff, Arizona
Don’t forget Winona
Kingman, Barstow, San Bernandino
Won’t you get hip to this timely tip
When you make that California trip
Get your kicks on Route sixty six
Won’t you get hip to this timely tip
When you make that California trip
Get your kicks on Route sixty six x3
Get Your Knicks On Route 66 Lyrics Alternate
If you’re going to go west
Travel my way
Choose the best highway
It winds from Chicago to Los Angeles
Stretches over two thousand miles
Hang out on Highway 66
Here you go through St. Louis
Joplin, Missouri
And Oklahoma City is nothing too
You see Amarillo
Gallup, New Mexico,
Flagstaff, Arizona
And don’t forget about Winona
Kingman, Barstow, San Bernardino
Look, this is great advice.
When you go on a trip to California
Hang out on Highway 66
Look, this is great advice.
When you go on a trip to California
Hang out on Highway 66 – 3x
