This week’s prompts from Jim Adams for Song Lyric Sunday are Avenue, Boulevard, Drive, Road and Street. Thanks Jim! I was actually spoilt for choice! I hope highway will be acceptable as I am choosing Ventura Highway by America from 1975. This song always makes me happy and I love the poetic use of words.
According to Songfacts, America member Dewey Bunnell wrote this song. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times October 1, 2006, he explained: “It was 1963 when I was in seventh grade, we got a flat tire and we’re standing on the side of the road and I was staring at this highway sign. It said ‘Ventura’ on it and it just stuck with me. It was a sunny day and the ocean there, all of it.”
Bunnell’s father was in the Air Force and was stationed at Vandenberg Air Force Base near Santa Barbara. They were on a trip in the Oxnard area of southern California when they got stranded.
Regarding the lyrics, “Seasons crying no despair, alligator lizards in the air,” Bunnell said: “The clouds. It’s my brother and I standing there on the side of the road looking at the shapes of clouds while my dad changed the tire.”
There’s no official “Ventura Highway,” but Ventura is a county in California, and Highway 101 runs through it.
Have a great Sunday!
Ventura Highway
America
Chewing on a piece of grass
Walking down the road
Tell me, how long you gonna stay here Joe?
Some people say this town don't look
Good in snow
You don't care, I know
Ventura Highway in the sunshine
Where the days are longer
The nights are stronger
Than moonshine
You're gonna go I know
'Cause the free wind is blowin' through
Your hair
And the days surround your daylight
There
Seasons crying no despair
Alligator lizards in the air
Wishin' on a falling star
Watchin' for the early train
Sorry boy, but I've been hit by
Purple rain
Aw, come on Joe, you can always
Change your name
Thanks a lot son, just the same
Ventura Highway
In the sunshine
Where the days are longer
The nights are stronger
Than moonshine
You're gonna go I know
'Cause the free wind is blowin' through
Your hair
And the days surround you daylight
There
Seasons crying no despair
Alligator lizards in the air
Songwriters: Dewey Bunnell
Ventura Highway lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc
A favorite of mine. Great choice! 🙂
Great isn’t it? 🙂
I love this song! It such a peaceful and wonderful tune!
Yes, I agree 🙂
Brings back beautiful memories, Thank you Christine xx
For me too Ivor. I loved that time in the 70s 🙂
Haha they were great times….
I like the carefree spirit of the song, I can see myself crusing down a well-worn old highway listening to it.
Yes Lisa! It just makes me smile whenever I hear it. Love it! 🙂
Just in case the pingback doesn’t, here it is:
https://fivedotoh.com/2019/06/02/twas-it-whatsit/
I’ve always loved the harmonic sounds of America, including this song, which is one of my favorites of theirs. But the lyrics to most of their songs, while poetic, sound like they were all tripping on acid when they wrote them. “Alligator lizards in the air”? Seriously?
By the way, I will be tagging you for one of Rory’s poetry blog hops. I hope my pingback works.
Lol!! I thought Alligator lizards did fly, didn’t they?? 🤣
I got your pingback! Thanks Fandango
Christine, it was great to hear this song again. I should have included Highway as part of the theme. I really listed to the lyrics today and this is a beautiful song, thanks for adding it. I wonder what song they were going to play next, as the video leaves you in suspense.
It just reminds me of happy times in the 70s 🙂✌️💕 I Loved America.
I’ve always loved this song too 🙂
Yes, it’s so pretty 🙂