During this year’s World Cup, a heartwarming scene has emerged: jubilant U.S. soccer players and their fans singing John Denver’s classic “Take Me Home, Country Roads” after games. This moment has become a highlight, showcasing the unity and joy of both the team and its supporters.
After a triumphant 2-0 win against Bosnia-Herzegovina, even coach Mauricio Pochettino, originally from Argentina, joined in the singing, embracing the spirit of the moment with his players and staff.
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Bill Danoff, who co-wrote “Country Roads,” expressed his honor at the U.S. team’s embrace of the song. He noted that John Denver, who tragically passed away in 1997, would have loved to see the team’s recent matches. “It was such an exciting game — they were down a player with a red card, but they still won,” Danoff remarked, sharing his newfound interest in soccer partly due to this connection.
The John Denver estate shared their excitement about the song’s revival during the World Cup, highlighting its universal message and the relatable nature of its lyrics. “Everyone knows what ‘Take me home to the place I belong’ is about,” they stated, emphasizing that its appeal transcends geographical boundaries.
So how did a song inspired by a drive in Maryland become a World Cup anthem? The origins of “Country Roads” are fascinating: Bill Danoff and his then-wife, Taffy Nivert, were inspired by a drive along Clopper Road in Maryland, not West Virginia, where the song is often associated.
Danoff, recalling that trip, said, “I just started thinking, country roads, I started thinking of me growing up in western New England.” At the time, he hadn’t spent much time in West Virginia, but he was influenced by Appalachian music and local culture, which shaped the song’s imagery.
Originally intended for Johnny Cash, Danoff and Nivert played the song for John Denver, who persuaded them to let him record it. Released in 1971, the song became Denver’s biggest hit and has remained a beloved classic ever since.
According to reports from The Athletic, FIFA officials added “Country Roads” to their post-game playlist to foster a connection between the U.S. team and its fans. The song first resonated with fans after a 2-0 victory against Australia, creating memorable moments as players waved to the crowd while singing.
Despite a less enthusiastic reception after a loss to Turkey, “Country Roads” made a triumphant return with the recent win against Bosnia-Herzegovina, with players like Weston McKennie and Sebastian Berhalter energetically engaging with fans.
Interestingly, the song has also been used in other sports contexts. At West Virginia University football games, fans sing it after victories, and it has even been adopted by European football fans, particularly during NFL games in Germany.
While “Country Roads” serves as an unofficial anthem for the U.S. team, England’s national team has embraced Oasis’ “Wonderwall” in a similar post-match tradition, creating a spirited atmosphere at their games.
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See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here
