Country Music
The song “King of the Road” by Roger Miller was a cross between Sixties country music and pop music. Even a hobo can take pleasure in his freedom — and have a sense of humor. Roger Miller wrote the song and released it as a single backed with “Atta Boy Girl” in 1965. It was also on his 1965 album The Return of Roger Miller. Evidently Miller was driving and saw a sign on the side of a barn that said “trailers for sale or rent,” and that became the beginning of the song. In 1965, the song went to #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles, U.S. Easy Listening Chart, on the U.K. Singles Chart, and in Norway. It went to #4 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, #5 in Ireland, and #10 in Canada. There have been numerous covers, including versions by The Proclaimers, Randy Travis George Jones, Dean Martin, Jack Jones, Johnny Paycheck, R.E.M., Alvin and The Chipmunks, Jerry Lee Lewis, and many more.
Roger Miller was born in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1936. He is probably best known for his country/pop hits “England Swings,” “Dang Me,” “Chug-a-Lug,” “Husband and Wives,” and “Little Green Apples,” to name a few. Miller died at the age of 56 of lung cancer in 1992.
2 Comments
[…] heard the song “King of Road” by Roger Miller, of course, well, here is “Queen of the House” by Jody Miller. […]
[…] For another song by Roger Miller: “King of the Road.” […]