Songs that Have a Highway Reference

[Dirt Roads]

That reminds me of one that doesn't quite meet the OP requirements:  The Interstate is Coming through my Outhouse, made popular in 1969 by Billy Edd Wheeler.  I also remember when Dr. Demento got on this bandwagon sometime in the mid-1970s, as my neighbor was "Hooked on Demento" and would tape the shows and bring them over for us to listen to on a miniature tape deck.  The Interstate is Coming through my Outhouse; Better make my last trip there today!

[7/8]

1) Talladega by Eric Church mentions I-65:

Wing and a prayer down 65
Five best friends on four bald tires

2) Bud the Spud by Stompin' Tom Connors is about a trucker shipping potatoes from PEI to Toronto.

It mentions the ferry to Cape Tormentine, NB (before the Confederation Bridge was built):

He's gotta catch the boat to make Tormentine
And he heads up that old New Brunswick line
Through Montreal he comes just a flyin
With another big load of potatoes

There's also a verse about speeding on the 401 in Ontario:

Now the Ontario Provincial Police
Don't think mucha bud
Yeah the Cops have been lookin' for the son of a gun
That's been rippin' the tar off the 401

EDIT: I thought of another one.

3) Out of Tune by Real Estate. I assume they're referring to I-95 based on them being from the NYC area:

See the cars on the 95
Cut through them like a sharpened knife

[ethanhopkin14]

"Diner" by Martin Sexton mentions I-20, the New York State Thruway and I-690.

"You may find a diner out in Georgia or Carolina of the twenty by the Piggly Wiggly in the country out of Waynesboro.
Or when it's late and rainy out in New York State, you hang a louie off the thru-way and go and grab yourself a cheese-burger.
At a little gem diner.
Off the six niner.
Diner my shiny shiny love."

[kphoger]

The Traveling Wilburys – Tweeter and the Monkey Man

Tweeter was a Boy Scout 'fore she went to Vietnam
And found out the hard way, nobody gives a damn
They knew that they found freedom just across the Jersey line
So they hopped into a stolen car, took Highway 99

I don't believe this refers to an actual route, though.  Correct me if I'm wrong.

[kevinb1994]

The Traveling Wilburys – Tweeter and the Monkey Man

Tweeter was a Boy Scout 'fore she went to Vietnam
And found out the hard way, nobody gives a damn
They knew that they found freedom just across the Jersey line
So they hopped into a stolen car, took Highway 99

I don't believe this refers to an actual route, though.  Correct me if I'm wrong.

Sounds like a bunch of Springsteen references.

[kphoger]

Yes, the song is full of Springsteen references.  But, even though, Springsteen grew up in New Jersey, there doesn't appear to be any obvious "Highway 99" that makes sense as a nod to Springsteen, nor one that crosses "the Jersey line" at all.

[kevinb1994]

Yes, the song is full of Springsteen references.  But, even though, Springsteen grew up in New Jersey, there doesn't appear to be any obvious "Highway 99" that makes sense as a nod to Springsteen, nor one that crosses "the Jersey line" at all.

Johnny 99 was one of the songs off the Nebraska album.

I think that "the Jersey line"  is a mashup of sorts...I'm getting a "Promised Land"  vibe but it doesn't check all of the boxes (even that song is a mashup of sorts).

[1995hoo]

The song is intended to be a Springsteen parody. I'd get a kick out of it if he were to play it live someday, thing I doubt that'll ever happen.

[Ned Weasel]

"America" by Simon and Garfunkel mentions the New Jersey Turnpike.
"Page Avenue" by Story of the Year refers to Missouri Secondary Route D in St. Louis County.

[kphoger]

Yes, the song is full of Springsteen references.  But, even though, Springsteen grew up in New Jersey, there doesn't appear to be any obvious "Highway 99" that makes sense as a nod to Springsteen, nor one that crosses "the Jersey line" at all.

Johnny 99 was one of the songs off the Nebraska album.

I think that "the Jersey line"  is a mashup of sorts...I'm getting a "Promised Land"  vibe but it doesn't check all of the boxes (even that song is a mashup of sorts).

The most likely explanation, in my opinion, is that "Highway 99" was just a great rhyme for "the Jersey line".

[hbelkins]

Not specifically applicable to the theme of this thread, but Jethro Tull's "Farm on the Freeway" is about eminent domain.

[kevinb1994]

Yes, the song is full of Springsteen references.  But, even though, Springsteen grew up in New Jersey, there doesn't appear to be any obvious "Highway 99" that makes sense as a nod to Springsteen, nor one that crosses "the Jersey line" at all.

Johnny 99 was one of the songs off the Nebraska album.

I think that "the Jersey line"  is a mashup of sorts...I'm getting a "Promised Land"  vibe but it doesn't check all of the boxes (even that song is a mashup of sorts).

The most likely explanation, in my opinion, is that "Highway 99" was just a great rhyme for "the Jersey line".

Yeah sure sounds like it.

[KCRoadFan]

When I saw this post, I thought of "Rollin' with My Homies" by Coolio: "West 105, hit the exit on Crenshaw."

[kurumi]

When I saw this post, I thought of "Rollin' with My Homies" by Coolio: "West 105, hit the exit on Crenshaw."

Wonder if he crossed paths with Skee-lo ("take the 110 down to the 105") tellin his homies look alive

[JayhawkCO]

One of my favorite bands to see locally.

Chris

[7/8]

Why Georgia by John Mayer has this verse about I-85 in Atlanta:

I am driving up 85 in the
Kind of morning that lasts all afternoon
Just stuck inside the gloom
4 more exits to my apartment but
I am tempted to keep the car in drive
And leave it all behind

[7/8]

Hopefully it's alright to revive this thread...

Just found out from Googling that the song "Grapevine" by Lane 8 refers to a section of I-5 north of LA. Now the lyric "91 miles to the Grapevine" makes sense.

[mgk920]

The Talking Heads had a reference to "Sleeping on the Interstate" in 'Wild Wild Life'.

Mike

[Hunty2022]

How did we get this far without mentioning Bottoms Up by Brantley Gilbert?

"Going 95 burning down 129, yeah"
This lyric is even on US 129's Wikipedia page!

[kphoger]

How did we get this far without mentioning Bottoms Up by Brantley Gilbert?

"Going 95 rollin' down 129, yeah"
This lyric is even on US 129's Wikipedia page!

One of only two Wikipedia edits made by that IP.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Contributions/72.81.227.65

[skluth]

Interstate Love Song - Stone Temple Pilots
The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy) - Simon & Garfunkel
Cross Road Blues aka Crossroads - Robert Johnson, Cream, and others - doesn't mention it specifically but is believed to be the junction of US 49 and 61.
Highway to Hell - AC/DC (not a real place but I think I've been on a few)

[kphoger]

Highway to Hell - AC/DC (not a real place but I think I've been on a few)

https://goo.gl/maps/wMzNqjzsVZNonJCF7

[roadman65]

If these have been mentioned before or not, I'm not going through 71 posts, but  there is Highway 61 in the title of a Dylan tune.  Then Rollin on the Highway by BTO is another.

[skluth]

Don't know how I forgot this. There's no specific highway mentioned, but the lyrics to "Born to be Wild" start, "Get your motor runnin', Head out on the highway."

[kphoger]

I'm not going through 71 posts, but  there is Highway 61 in the title of a Dylan tune.  Then Rollin on the Highway by BTO is another.

Just search the thread for "Highway 61".

Do you mean "Roll On Down the Highway"?  |michravera| mentioned that one.