Take Me Home, Country Roads – English Lyrics

• By: John Denver

Lyrics & Translation

Immerse yourself in the nostalgic beauty of John Denver's "Take Me Home, Country Roads." This song is a masterclass in conveying longing and reverence for nature, allowing learners to absorb evocative English vocabulary describing natural landscapes, memory, and the profound sentiment of 'home.' Its enduring popularity and simple, heartfelt message make it an exceptionally special and relatable piece for language practice.

[English]

Almost heaven, West Virginia

Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River

Life is old there, older than the trees

Younger than the mountains, growin' like a breeze

Country roads, take me home

To the place I belong

West Virginia, Mountain Mama

Take me home, country roads

All my memories gather 'round her

Miner's lady, stranger to blue water

Dark and dusty, painted on the sky

Misty taste of moonshine, teardrops in my eyes

Country roads, take me home

To the place I belong

West Virginia, Mountain Mama

Take me home, country roads

I hear her voice, in the mornin' hour she calls me

Radio reminds me of my home far away

Drivin' down the road, I get a feelin'

That I should have been home yesterday, yesterday

Country roads, take me home

To the place I belong

West Virginia, Mountain Mama

Take me home, country roads, everybody sing

Country roads, take me home

To the place I belong

West Virginia, Mountain Mama

Take me home, country roads

Take me home down country roads

Take me home down country roads

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
heaven /ˈhɛvən/ A1	noun - the place where God lives and where good people go after death
Virginia /vərˈdʒɪniə/ A1	noun - a state in the eastern United States
Blue /bluː/ A1	adjective - of a color between green and violet in the spectrum
Mountains /ˈmaʊntənz/ A1	noun - a very large hill
Shenandoah /ˌʃɛnənˈdoʊ/ B1	noun - a river in Virginia
old /oʊld/ A1	adjective - having lived or existed for a long time
growin /ˈgroʊɪŋ/ A1	verb - to develop and become larger or more mature
breeze /briːz/ A2	noun - a gentle wind
Country /ˈkʌntri/ A1	noun - a nation or state adjective - relating to the countryside
roads /roʊdz/ A1	noun - a wide way leading from one place to another
belong /bɪˈlɔːŋ/ A2	verb - to be in the right place or suitable
Mama /ˈmɑːmə/ A1	noun - a term of address for a mother
memories /ˈmɛməriz/ A2	noun - something remembered from the past
Miner's /ˈmaɪnərz/ B1	noun - a person who works in a mine
lady /ˈleɪdi/ A1	noun - a woman of high social position or status
stranger /ˈstreɪndʒər/ A2	noun - a person whom one does not know
dusty /ˈdʌsti/ A2	adjective - covered with dust
sky /skaɪ/ A1	noun - the area above the earth where clouds and the sun are visible
misty /ˈmɪsti/ A2	adjective - covered with or full of mist
moonshine /ˈmuːnʃaɪn/ B1	noun - strong alcohol made illegally
teardrops /ˈtɪrˌdrɒps/ A2	noun - a drop of tears

Key Grammar Structures

• Almost heaven, West Virginia

  ➔ Adjective Order

  ➔ "Almost" (opinion) comes before "heaven" (noun) to describe West Virginia, following the typical order of adjectives in English.

• Life is old there, older than the trees

  ➔ Comparative Adjective

  ➔ "Older" is the comparative form of "old", used to compare the age of life to that of trees.

• Country roads, take me home

  ➔ Imperative Mood

  ➔ "Take" is in the imperative mood, used to give a direct command or request.

• All my memories gather 'round her

  ➔ Personification

  ➔ The verb "gather" is used to describe memories as if they were people, giving them human-like qualities.

• I hear her voice, in the mornin' hour she calls me

  ➔ Present Simple with Future Meaning

  ➔ "She calls me" uses the present simple to describe a habitual action that will occur in the future.

• That I should have been home yesterday, yesterday

  ➔ Past Perfect

  ➔ "Should have been" indicates a past action that did not occur, expressing regret or a missed opportunity.

• Take me home, country roads, everybody sing

  ➔ Direct Address

  ➔ "Everybody" is used as a direct address to include the audience in the action of singing.