Story Behind The Song

This is a song about a hitch-hiking trip I did from Oklahoma to LA in 1967. It was inspired by my novel with the same name. It won The Grand Prize in The International Route 66 Theme Song Contest. It comes from my new album, "Laurel Canyon", filled with songs about travel and life on the road and on the West Coast in the 60's and 70's.

Lyrics

"The Last Riders On Route 66"
Words & Music by Chet Nichols
Copyright 2002/2024 by Chester Nichols, Jr /Magic Garage Music(ASCAP)
http://www.chetnichols.net :: MagicGarageMusic@protonmail.com
chet@chetnichols.net :: chetcichols@me.com
"Grand Prize Winner in The Route 66 Theme Song Contest 2002"
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Verse 1
It was the Spring of '67
When this story starts
It's about two boys who hit the road
With their thumbs and their hearts
California was calling them
The blue skies and the beach
Were waiting down America's Main Street
They were right there in their reach
And they heard Will Roger's highway
Was about to change its name
To another nameless freeway
They knew they'd never get the chance again

CHORUS
They were the last riders on route 66
Hitchin' and crusin' and grooving ' on the Mother Road
They were the last riders on route 66
They were livin' and laughin' and lovin' on the Mother Road

Verse 2
They saw lots of paintings of Elvis
Using neon paint against black velvet
Blacktop ham and eggs and red corvettes
Along that 4-lane amusement park
The road was lined with strange landmarks
And desert Deco towns shining thru the dark
They learned about love on the highway
And in a rockin' little beach hotel
By the time they got back to Oklahoma
Lord, they had some stories to tell

REPEAT CHORUS

BRIDGE
Every ride that picked them up
Was like changing a TV channel
They met hippies and hustlers and soldiers and truckers
And quite a few dangerous damsels
And the jackalopes in Arizona
Where just the right size to ride
Out where the tee-pee motels
Meet the desert sky

REPEAT CHORUS

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Words & Music by Chet Nichols
Copyright 2002/2024 by Chester Nichols, Jr /Magic Garage Music(ASCAP)
http://www.chetnichols.net :: MagicGarageMusic@protonmail.com
chet@chetnichols.net :: chetcichols@me.com
Chet Nichols/Magic Garage Music, PO Box 345, Antioch, Il 60002

ALL RIGHTS ARE RESERVED

Playlist Creator	Playlist Name	Date Added
Pepper Stevens	Best Indie Music Buzz	10/30/2024