Unknown/Underrated*: Canned Heat's "On The Road Again"

Always loved the name of this group.  They were one of the performers at the legendary Woodstock Festival in 1969.  For the other 7,162,600,000 of us that didn't get to see them then, we get to listen to the song on Inside The Rock Era.  Unfortunately, most radio stations don't play this song, because it didn't reach the Top 10.

 

But it peaked at #11, and when you consider the quality of competition, a #11 song in 1969 is better than the vast majority of the Top Ten songs of today.  But then, Canned Heat was always underrated.  Regardless, this is a great song, and deserves to be heard nearly 45 years later (Can we really be coming up on the 45-year anniversary of Woodstock?):

 

 

 

"On The Road Again"

Canned Heat

 

Written by Floyd Jones and Alan Watson

 

Well, I'm so tired of crying
But I'm out on the road again
I'm on the road again
Well, I'm so tired of crying
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

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

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."

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 morning
Down the road I'm going

But I ain't going down
That long old lonesome road
All by myself
But I ain't going down
That long old lonesome road
All by myself

I can't carry you, baby
Gonna carry somebody else