Musical musings about what motivates RVers and other motorists to take off down the road.
By Ann Bush, F516383
January 2023
During the recent pandemic caused by a tiny virus that doled out a massive impact, many people jumped in their RVs — or purchased RVs — and took the song made famous in 1961 by Ray Charles — “Hit The Road Jack” — literally.
According to the RV Industry Association, manufacturer shipments of RVs trended upward for many months, even as other industries were experiencing a downturn. As of July 2022, for example, the reported year-to-date RV shipment number was 353,478 units, up from 344,804 in July 2021. When one considers that these numbers reflect only new RVs that were shipped, it’s mind-boggling to consider how many used RVs also were purchased to hit the road. Although sales may have slowed in recent months, interest in RVing remains high.
Many reasons prompted the RV boom. Some buyers experiencing financial struggles needed to downsize after losing their jobs. Others were struck with cabin fever and decided an RV was an economical way to get out while avoiding crowds and possible COVID-19 exposure. Still others realized the pandemic provided a gift of time with their families — a way to make memories. On-the-road learning became an attractive option for families whose children’s schools were closed. And, as always, those with bucket lists found RVing to be the perfect way to fulfill some of their dreams. Some folks planned to travel just for the summer, thinking the pandemic was a short-term problem. Others specifically planned to retire in an RV, in hopes of a lower cost of living. Maybe you fit in one of these categories.
Interestingly, musicians are among the road gurus who have elected to use RVs over the years. Their experiences and emotions on the road found their way into their songs.
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Let’s take a look at who is hitting the road in RVs, and turn on the radio for a little road trip music.
The Freedom Seekers. A sense of freedom and hope is firmly instilled in American culture, becoming an aspiration for generations. Bruce Springsteen’s “Born To Run,” included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s list of 500 songs that shaped the genre, also shaped the sense of freedom on a road trip. Just hang on tight and “scream down the boulevard.” The love of the automobile, or motorcycle, in Springsteen’s case, is tied directly to our love of freedom.
Or maybe, just the sense of freedom is enough, as best explained by Arcade Fire in their song “Keep the Car Running,” relating fears of global anxiety and the certainty that there must be something better down the road. The explosion of RV rentals can often be traced to this desire to leave every bad thing behind, even if for just a few days.
The American Dream Seekers. Even before the railroad and automobile were invented, early immigrants used horses, oxen-powered wagons, or a good pair of walking shoes to hit the dusty, bumpy roads in search of dreams, peace, or prosperity. America was considered an open slate, with a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. These travelers fell in love with the country in the process, best portrayed by Simon and Garfunkel in “America,” their beautiful song about a restless young couple on a bus enjoying every aspect of a road trip.
However, “Truckin’” by the Grateful Dead brings us back to reality. Recognized by the U.S. Library of Congress as a national treasure, this iconic road trip song is about misfortunes along the road as a metaphor for getting through life’s constant changes. Seeing the USA in a large RV can have its pitfalls, such as 8 miles to the gallon, flat tires, short old bridges, and narrow highways.
The Escape Seekers. For many, the recent pandemic resulted in lost jobs, bankruptcies, fear, depression, and anxiety about the future. When things look or feel bad, it might be time to move on — sometimes as fast as possible by going down the highway. The thought that anyplace is better than here is best described by Willie Nelson crooning about the stress of work, family, bills, city life, and the desire to just be free in his song “On The Road Again.”
The Adventure Seekers. The pandemic pushed many happy and well-adjusted city dwellers to consider the outdoors as a safe destination, because most public places were closed. Mainly about getting out of the city, the song “Where The Streets Have No Name” by U2 mentions feeling sunlight on your face, “shelter from the poison rain,” and breathing fresh air.
As sung by the Eagles in “Take It Easy,” problems are washed away by adventure. The forest, desert, or canyon were considered adventures for those who have lived most of their life in a concrete world. For these travelers, the outdoors was an exciting uncharted territory with few hotels available, so staying within the national park system became part of the adventure. However, many of these adventure seekers drew the line on comfort and brought a hotel room on wheels complete with a comfortable bed, air-conditioning, and more.
The Bucket List Seekers. The borders to Europe were blocked during the pandemic, also closing the door on popular bucket-list places such as Rome or Paris. Many gave the United States another look, following the advice from Canned Heat’s song, “Going Up The Country,” about seeing the USA, where “the water tastes like wine.” People took to the road and found that the nation could rival almost any place on the planet, and they collected selfies in amazing places.
It’s not clear whether Johnny Cash was interested in a bucket list, but in the song “I’ve Been Everywhere,” he rapidly rattles off a succession of 90 places he has been, in four verses. Tourists have “collected” places for many years, beginning with brightly colored stickers perfect for the side of a suitcase, or to add to a map on the side of an RV. The National Park Service developed a variety of park passports, enabling visitors of all ages to stamp a unique symbol of every national park that they physically visit.
The No Particular Place To Go Seekers. Divorce, broken families, and financial loss during the pandemic prompted many people to buy inexpensive RVs and hit the road. During their wanderings, many not only saw the beautiful country but also re-established their lives and found new friends. Social networking opportunities popped up on the internet, and soon many folks became adventurous nomads. These groups of road trippers created a whole new travel culture, as described in “Ramblin’ Man,” written by Hank Williams in 1951, which inspired the Allman Brothers to record a song by the same name in 1973.
The Memory Seekers. In the song “Every Day Is A Winding Road” by Sheryl Crow, byways are a metaphor for life and the quirky people we meet along the way. Many families with children not able to attend school hit the road as an alternative for hitting the books, using real-life experiences as a special educational method. Gaining memories along the way that will last a lifetime, they learned about the country’s beauty, history, culture, and life in general.
Love and making memories seem to go hand in hand, because the RV rental business saw an increase for honeymoon vacations. The song “Have Love, Will Travel” tells of a man who journeys from Maine to Mexico to find love. Recorded by many musicians, one of the public’s favorite versions, according to record sales, is sung by The Black Keys.
If You Hit The Road
A July 2022 survey commissioned by RVIA of a cross-section of leisure travelers found that 65 million Americans were planning to hit the road in an RV in the next 12 months. Top destinations include national and state parks, beaches, and private campgrounds — traveling up to 16 hours a day to get there. Interestingly, fuel prices were not listed as a deterrent to 79 percent of the survey participants at the time, and many claimed to travel by RV more than previously. No matter what the reason, RV travel is here to stay.
The first line in the song “King Of The Road” by Roger Miller is about trailers for sale or rent, and the lyrics allude to him being king of his destiny. As RV kings and queens – you’ve got this. Hit the road, find a winding path, ramble down a country lane, go everywhere to find streets with no name, take it easy, and keep the car running while the radio blares out a road trip song.
In case you can’t find the song that fits your style or destination, visit www.timeout.com/newyork/music/50-best-road-trip-songs. Or listen to FMCA’s “Road Trip Karaoke” playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7l5hRTltrB2xmMlGuONMBw.