Young songwriter Bobby Troup headed to Los Angeles in 1946 in his 1941 Buick with his wife, Cynthia. During the drive, Cynthia came up with the phrase, “Get your kicks on Route 66.”
That inspired Bobby to write a draft of a song that he presented to Nat King Cole just a few weeks later in February. By April, Cole had recorded it, and it rose to #11 on the Billboard chart. By the end of the year, it was recorded again by Bing Crosby with the Andrews Sisters.
How many other artists have recorded the iconic song about America’s famous highway?
It is estimated that close to 300 artists have recorded the famous song. Here are just a few:
Perry Como
Chuch Berry
Jerry Lee Lewis
The Rolling Stones
John Mayer
Bob Dylan
Asleep at the Wheel
Brad Paisley
The Brian Seltzer Orchestra
Depeche Mode
The 2006 movie “Cars,” which was inspired by communities along Route 66, includes versions by Chuck Barry and John Mayer.
Listen to Nat King Cole’s version on YouTube.
Here are the full lyrics:
Well, if you ever plan to motor west
Try take my way
That’s the highway
That’s the best
Get your kicks on Route 66
Well, it winds from Chicago to L.A
More than two thousand miles all the way
Get your kicks on Route 66
Well, it goes from St. Louis
Down to Missouri
Oklahoma City looks oh so pretty
You’ll see Amarillo
And Gallup, New Mexico
Flagstaff, Arizona
Don’t forget Winona
Kingman, Barstow, San Bernadino
Would you get hip to this kindly tip
And go take that California trip?
Get your kicks on Route 66
Well, it goes from St. Louis
Down to Missouri
Oklahoma City looks oh so pretty
You’ll see Amarillo
And Gallup, New Mexico
Flagstaff, Arizona
Don’t forget Winona
Kingman, Barstow, San Bernardino
Would you get hip to this kindly tip
And go take that California trip?
Get your kicks on Route 66
Well, get your kicks on Route 66
Well, get your kicks on Route 66
– The Travel 100 staff