John Denver’s ‘Take Me Home, Country Roads’ Hits 55 This Year
Sara Berki puts a fresh spin on the iconic song
Fifty-five years ago this year, John Denver performed “Take Me Home, Country Roads” for the first time in public at The Cellar Door music club in Washington, D.C. Released as a single a year later in April 1971, “Country Roads” (as it’s fondly known) quickly became a pop sensation.
How “Country Roads” became a beloved hit.
With its catchy, sing-along melody and heartfelt lyrics, the hit song resonated across national and international borders even though it paid tribute to a single U.S. state, West Virginia. Evoking deep nostalgia and the universal longing for “going home,” the song has remained a beloved favorite ever since.
Composed by Bill Danoff and Taffy Nivert, with Denver facilitating the ballad’s completion, hundreds of cover versions of “Country Roads” appear on YouTube today, where it remains as prolific as the Mountain State’s dazzling fall leaves are abundant.
Popular covers of the country classic
Among my favorite versions are those performed by The Petersens, a Missouri bluegrass family; the Hermes House Band, a Dutch pop group; New Zealander Jamie McDell; and South Korean YouTuber J.Fla.
While none can surpass the original, one standout contemporary version comes from Down Under. Since posting her 2024 live performance across social media—including Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube—Aussie country singer Sara Berki has racked up over 20 million views. The performance — filmed during an Australian Football League match in Queensland — was so well received that it became the official team song of the Brisbane Lions.
“It was an absolute privilege to play at the game,” Berki told me by email. Denver’s storytelling was not only admirable but memorable and personal.
“His music is sentimental, honest, and sincere, which is relatable to so many human beings around the world and every generation,” she notes. “It reminds me of my Welsh grandmother playing it on vinyl in her living room when I was a little girl. It makes me think of home — tall pines, rolling green hills, and maple leaves all over the road when the weather changes. I think of my mum, and how I always travel back home down the highway to her house when I’m feeling a little lost.”
Originally from Bundaberg on the Queensland east coast, Berki now lives near Sydney. She has composed numerous songs as a singer-songwriter since debuting her self-funded single “Fallin’ off the Heartline” in 2022.
A more recently released song, “Tear You Apart,” checks all the required boxes for a successful country chart hit (www.saraberki.com). Berki plans to travel to Nashville this year and hopes to perform in the U.S. some day.
“I can’t wait to meet some inspiring people, play some writer’s rounds, work with songwriters and producers that I’ve had written down in my little black book since being an artist, drink some Dr Pepper, eat some fried chicken, and just take it all in, really,” she says. “I’m excited to experience American culture, the landscapes, and all the opportunities it can offer.”
The Denver classic inspires her, and she hopes her music will elicit that inspiration in others.
“It’s just a well-respected song — a classic that will always remain popular,” she says. “Since playing it live and sharing it on YouTube, I’ve found it has meaning for each and every single person. I remind myself that it’s my job on this earth to make make people feel something; that’s all I can hope for.”
“Take Me Home, Country Roads” — then & now
Enjoy two unforgettable versions of this iconic song — one from its original creators and one from a rising star, bringing it to a new generation.
Watch the original 1971 performance by Bill Danoff, Taffy Nivert, and John Denver — the songwriters behind the hit single, ‘Take Me Home Country Roads.’ Watch on YouTube here. The video quality is rough (it’s from 1971, after all), but the nostalgia is genuine — you’ll feel like you’re back in the car, singing along with John.
Check out Sara Berki’s viral 2024 performance, recorded live at an Australian Football League match in Queensland: Watch on YouTube here. This fresh and emotional rendition has garnered over 20 million views and captured the hearts of a new generation of fans.
