Ventura Highway Lyrics
Chewing on a piece of grass
Walking down the road
Tell me, how long you gonna stay here, Joe?
Some people say this town don't look good in snow
You don't care, I know
[Chorus]
Ventura Highway in the sunshine
Where the days are longer
The nights are stronger than moonshine
You're gonna go
I know-uh-oh-uh-oh-uh-oh-uh-oh-uh-oh-uh-oh
'Cause the free wind is blowing through your hair
And the days surround your daylight there
Seasons crying no despair
Alligator lizards in the air, in the air
[Hook]
Did di di di dit, did di di di dit
Did di di di dit, did di di di dit
Did di di di dit, did di di di dit
Did di di di dit, did di di di dit
Did di di di dit, did di di di dit
Did di di di dit, did di di di dit
Wishing on a falling star
Waiting for the early train
Sorry boy, but I've been hit by purple rain
Aw, come on, Joe, you can always
Change your name
Thanks a lot, son, just the same
[Chorus]
Ventura Highway in the sunshine
Where the days are longer
The nights are stronger than moonshine
You're gonna go
I know-uh-oh-uh-oh-uh-oh-uh-oh-uh-oh-uh-oh
'Cause the free wind is blowing through your hair
And the days surround your daylight there
Seasons crying no despair
Alligator lizards in the air, in the air
[Outro]
Did di di di dit, did di di di dit (du du du du)
Did di di di dit, did di di di dit (du du du du)
Did di di di dit, did di di di dit (du du du du)
Did di di di dit, did di di di dit (du du du du)
Did di di di dit, did di di di dit (du du du du)
Did di di di dit, did di di di dit (du du du du)
About
“Ventura Highway” was the lead single for America’s second album, Homecoming, written by Dewey Bunnell, who also takes lead vocals. He claims that the line “alligator lizards in the air” refers to formations of clouds he witnessed when travelling through California with his family as a kid, while pulled over with his dad fixing a flat tire, he and his brother stood by the side of the road, admiring the clouds and seeing a road sign for Ventura.
The term “purple rain” appears in the song as well, which became the title of Prince’s 1984 song, album, film, and tour. Whether a connection exists, many have suggested that Prince lifted the line for his album, Prince is greatly fond of the band as well.
Upon release, the song debuted at 64 on the Hot 100, but soon jumped to number 8 where it peaked, spending 12 weeks on the charts after debuting on October 21, 1972. It has since gone on to become a staple of the soft-rock genre, a favorite on many classic rock stations for a number of decades.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
The song reminds me of the time I lived in Omaha as a kid and how we’d walk through cornfields and chew on pieces of grass. There were cold winters, and I had images of going to California. So I think in the song I’m talking to myself, frankly: ‘How long you gonna stay here, Joe?’ I really believe that ‘Ventura Highway’ has the most lasting power of all my songs. It’s not just the words — the song and the track have a certain fresh, vibrant, optimistic quality that I can still respond to
-Dewey Bunnell, Booklet from the album “Highway”I remember vividly having this mental picture of the stretch of the coastline traveling with my family when I was younger. Ventura Highway itself, there is no such beast, what I was really trying to depict was the Pacific Coast Highway, Highway 1, which goes up to the town of Ventura.
-Dewey Bunnell, Interview on “Popular Song: Soundtrack of the Century episode – After the Gold Rush”
- 1.Ventura Highway
- 4.Moon Song
- 10.Saturn Nights
