‘On the Road Again’ is a song recorded by the American blues rock group Canned Heat in 1967. A driving blues rock boogie, it was adapted from earlier blues songs and includes mid-1960s psychedelic rock elements. Unlike most of Canned Heat's songs from the period which were sung by Bob Hite, second guitarist and harmonica player Alan Wilson provides the distinctive high pitched vocal, sometimes described as a falsetto. ‘On the Road Again’ first appeared on their second album, Boogie with Canned Heat, in January 1968. An edited version was released as a single in April 1968 and became Canned Heat's first record chart hit and one of their best-known songs.
Floyd Jones and Alan "Blind Owl" Wilson wrote this song. Wilson played on this a drone instrument, which gave the song a psychedelic feel. Wilson had gained a knowledge of Eastern music after studying the Veena (an Indian stringed instrument) while at UCLA. ‘On the Road Again’ is based on early blues songs by Tommy Johnson and Floyd Jones. The lyrics to Johnson's ‘Big Road Blues’ (1928) include: "Well I ain't goin' down that big road by myself ... If I don't carry you gonna carry somebody else". In ‘Dark Road’ (1951), Jones "reshaped Tommy Johnson's verses into an eerie evocation of the Delta".
‘On the Road Again’ was among the first songs Canned Heat recorded as demos in April 1967 at the RCA Studios in Chicago with original drummer Frank Cook. At over seven minutes in length, it has the basic elements of the later album version, but is two minutes longer with more harmonica and guitar soloing.
‘On the Road Again’ is included on Canned Heat's second album, Boogie with Canned Heat, released January 21, 1968, by Liberty Records. After receiving strong response from airplay on American "underground" FM radio, Liberty issued the song as a single on April 24, 1968. To make the song more Top-40 AM radio-friendly, Liberty edited it from the original length of 4:55 to a 3:33 single version. It became Canned Heat's first single to appear in the record charts.
Label – Liberty
Songwriters – Floyd Jones Alan Wilson
Producer – Cal Carter
SONG LYRICS
[Verse 1]Well, I'm so tired of cryin' but I'm out on the road again
I'm on the road again
Well, I'm so tired of cryin' but I'm out on the road again
I'm on the road again
I ain't got no woman just to call my special friend
[Verse 2]
You know the first time I traveled out in the rain and snow
In the rain and snow
You know the first time I traveled out in the rain and snow
In the rain and snow
I didn't have no payroll, not even no place to go
[Verse 3]
And my dear mother left me when I was quite young
When I was quite young
And my dear mother left me when I was quite young
When I was quite young
She said "Lord, have mercy on my wicked son"
[Harmonica Solo]
[Verse 4]
Take a hint from me, mama, please, don't you cry no more
Don't you cry no more
Take a hint from me, mama, please, don't you cry no more
Don't you cry no more
'Cause it's soon one mornin' down the road I'm goin'
[Verse 5]
But I ain't goin' down that long, old lonesome road
All by myself
But I ain't goin' down that long, old lonesome road
All by myself
I can't carry you, baby, gonna carry somebody else