10 Best Music Lyrics You Can Visit
By: Tom Genes
Tags: Music, Lyrics, Classic Rock, Top 10, Travel

Songs have a way of making a time or place sound magical. We envision these mystical places in our minds as artists sing of a certain destination. The question is do any of these places live up to the hype? Here are in fact ten places you can visit, but they don’t always live up to the visions that were conjured up in your mind. However, some are worth the journey. Here’s a look at the top 10 Musical Lyrics You Can Visit:

10- Standing On a Corner in Winslow Arizona, Such A Fine Sight To See” (Eagles, “Take It Easy”)- There really is not much to see on any corner in Winslow, Arizona. This sleepy town in Navajo county has less than 10,000 full-time residents and really lacks any visual benefit, even if you were lucky enough to see a flatbed Ford with or without a woman in it. Now of course the musical intersection of Jackson Browne's mind with his Eagle friend’s harmonies looks even worse because the area has tried as hard as they can to turn the area into a park commemorating a single line in a rock song. There is a statue of a dude literally standing under a street sign that says “Standing on the Corner.” Could anything be less authentic?

It wasn’t always like this. The first time I visited was in the 1980s and well there were numerous corners of Winslow, Arizona and any one of them could have been the inspiration for Brown as he penned these classic lyrics that were eventually finished by Glenn Frey. The good news was we did see a couple of Fords on our visit but no girls. Anywhere. Not much to see here folks.

9 When The Sun Comes Up On A Sleepy Little Town… China Grove”(Doobie Brothers, “China Grove”)- The good news is China Grove is still a sleepy little town named after the Chinaberry tree that blossoms all around this area. And truth be told, it is not all that far from San Antonio. Now the Doobie Brothers’ version of China grove makes it sounds like there is a heck of a party town where you “can hear the music at night.” But nowadays, mostly what you hear at night in China grove are frogs croaking. Not sure if the primary songwriter Tom Johnston had visions of building a modern-day Westworld when he envisioned his “oriental view (of) the sheriff and his buddies with their samurai swords.” But now the place is so desolate, it might make for a decent version of the theme park and then everyone will be “talking about the China grove,” for sure. But until then might want to travel skip to the next song

8 -Move West Down Ventura Boulevard” (Tom Petty, “Free Fallin’”) Do you really want to go to a place where “all the bad boys are standing in the shadows/And the good girls are home with broken hearts?” Of course, just the mere way Tom Petty sings the lyric makes it sound magical yet there is little to write home about. Ventura Boulevard is a major thoroughfare in the San Fernando Valley of stores, stores and more stores. If you need it it's here. At 18 miles long it has been called the “longest avenue of contiguous businesses in the world.” Years before Tom Petty mentioned the promenade in “Free Fallin’” the Everly Brothers (Petty’s idols) released a sleeper of a song called “Ventura Boulevard.” It’s slow tempo keeps pace with a stroll down this California road; however, it’s Frank Zappa’s reference in “Valley Girl” that distills the street's true essence, “On Ventura, there she goes, she just bought some bitchin’ clothes.” Which is about all you can do on Ventura Boulevard in spite of the way it rolls off your tongue.

7 “I’m Going to Graceland/In Memphis, Tennessee” (Paul Simon, “Graceland”)-You have to see it to believe it. This roughly about a half-mile of homage to Elvis Presley. The mansion sits on a replica of Any Street, USA. and from the over the top headquarters across the street, you can purchase any number of tours of opulence. The King is everywhere. No really, everywhere. From the street signs, tourist shops to the All-Elvis, All The Time TV channels in the shabby motels along Elvis Presley Boulevard. The king of rock and roll lives on without what appears to be even a good carpet cleaning. Imagine the lavishness of a 1970’s bachelor pad and freeze that picture. And that is Graceland. What this trip back to his mansion makes clear is, with the real commercial aircraft parked across the street and the amusement park-like walkthrough of the Mansion’s manicured grounds, America’s only accepted King lived like one. Simply and outrageously. Granted some of the areas you walk past have a spiritual and reverential feeling for some aged visitors (of which there are plenty). For the most though, this is just pure gaud in the name of hero worship. But it’s working. Thousands visit this landmark and it never seems to get old. Ladies and gentlemen. It’s a house. And you have to walk through the whole exhibit. There are no rides, or living exhibits that get changed out regularly like the shag carpet, Elvis put in 50 years ago. At the time sure, it might have been an expensive proposition to add the decorations to this house as Elvis did, but today Empire Carpets could do a better job for about $99 a room. And the AV equipment isn’t even funny. There is a part of me that wanted to say “oh yeah that’s cool.” But mostly I was like what? What purpose does all this serve? I guess people want to remember a special time in their formative years . Perhaps they feel a closeness to their idol by walking on the same grounds, but not to me. In fact, the graveyard scene in the backyard is kinda creepy on any day except Halloween. Should you go? Yes! Once.

6 “2120 Michigan Avenue” (Rolling Stones, “2120 Michigan Avenue”)- Some serious blues tourism for ya. This Rolling Stones’ instrumental speaks for itself. A homage to Chess Records’ location in Chicago, that has now been converted to a mini-museum with rather strange operating hours. The Blues Heaven Foundation has just a few tours a day (pre COVID) and doesn’t always even do those. That being said the Foundation started by Willie Dixon has a worthwhile mission to “encourage a new generation of blues greats.” This particular building on Chicago’s Southside remains an inspiration for artists of all genres. The Rolling Stones came here to pay homage to their icons Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker and Dixon. You can return to the scene and feel the essence of those young impressionable lads showing up to their Mecca to meet their heroes. And then after the tour head a few blocks north to hear Buddy Guy tear it up at his own nightclub.

5 “Let’s Go Down To The Sunset Grill” (Don Henley, “Sunset Grill”)-Under new ownership since I last visited, The Sunset Grill offers a great stop during your LA visit just for a burger while watching the “working girls go by.” And that’s it. Honestly, it’s enough. Don Henley’s remarkable song caught a seedy side of Hollywood when all thought the world and California were a perfect utopia of glorious living. Henley used this cool diner with original cafe-style seating as a symbol of the downside of 1980s. The view from the outside stools was not Chamber of Commerce approved though it lives up to Henley’s depiction. At the time of my visit, it was a great place to gaze out at the auburn skies and have another beer. Recent pictures on the web seem to make it look significantly different and gone are the front stools that provided such charm to this joint. But I still remember sitting there with a beer and a burger and pondering “What would we do without all these jerks anyway?”

4 “Pardon Me Boy, Is That The Chattanooga Choo Choo?” (Glenn Miller, ‘Chatanooga Choo Choo”)- Glenn Miller and his swing dance band rocked the charts in the 1930s with what some might say was an early form of rock and roll. Their hit in 1941 was the first gold record ever with over 1 million sold copies. Today you can not only visit the Chattanooga Choo Choo but also sleep in it. The Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel is cool. Sleep in an actual Pullman Train car room and sense the bygone era. Have dinner in the diner and really nothing could be finer. Until you venture out into one of the most underrated cities to visit (especially with kids). Chattanooga offers a couple of days worth of entertainment that you are unlikely to find in most cities of similar size. Overshadowed by Atlanta a short 90-minute drive away, Chattanooga offers a world-class aquarium, a world of literal wonder at Ruby Falls, and significant shopping besides a few side-bars. And if you go and don’t plan to “See Rock City”, well just stay home. Take a two-day adventure with your family, stay at the Choo Choo because “there is going to be a party at the station.”

3 “Climbing Up On Solsbury Hill” (Peter Gabriel, “Solsbury Hill”)- I spent about three weeks in the United Kingdom on a rock and roll pilgrimage. Of course, there was the standard-issue street crossing at Abbey Road, however, I wanted to be more arcane with my ventures. Every day I took a train to locations like Brighton Beach where the anti-hero of The Who’s Quadrophenia spent his summer days brushed by sea and sand. I wanted to stand on the grave of a soldier who died in 1799 in Winchester Cathedral as Crosby Still and Nash sing on “Cathedral” and I wanted to have a beer in the Cavern Club. What I most regret now is I didn’t fancy a trip out to the county of Somerset for a walk or more appropriate a climb up Solsbury Hill. Peter Gabriel’s song of spiritual redemption makes this place sound downright life-changing. Not sure how hard the climb up would be, but some exertion might make my heart go boom, boom, boom. I blew it and didn’t go; however, I guess as Peter suggests maybe I just need to “use my imagination.” And save it for my next trip.

2 “I Went Down To The Crossroads, Fell Down On My Knees” (Robert Johnson, “Crossroads”)- I did indeed and it's worth the trip. You will swear the blacktop of Highway 61 where it meets Highway 49 is not black. It’s the deepest blue you’ll ever see. Here at the Bethlehem manger of American blues music, you can feel the devil watching you and waiting for your decision. Will you sell your soul for rock and roll? The location itself is marked a bit auspiciously by a large lighted sign of guitars, but from there, your trip really just begins. There is a weekend worth of activities in and around the area. The Delta Blues Museum is the area’s oldest and houses some great historic exhibits that deliver “not only the music but the culture that produced it.” Once in the museum, you can see the cabin that Muddy Waters (McKinley Morganfield at the time) grew up in, and after the museum head out to Stovall Farms to take in the Mississippi Blues Trail marker on the site of his family home. You definitely want to stay in the Riverside Hotel that reeks of the essence of the great bluesman that stayed there like Howlin’ Wolf. And although The New World District is still a few years away from becoming today’s modern and commercialized Beale Street, you might see why it caused a young Robert Johnson to fell down on his knees.

1 “On Penny Lane, There is a Barber Showing Photographs.” (Beatles, “Penny Lane”) Penny Lane is just one stop on a trip that is a historic, cultural feast that all music and world history buffs should take. Liverpool owns their history, good and bad. First, the museums- art and otherwise -are world-class. The Beatles’ presence is certainly felt; however, it’s not all this town has to offer. The International Slavery Museum is one of the most somber and gut-wrenching hours I have ever spent in a public space. The history of Liverpool is wrought with the slave trade and the current Liverpool is not trying to hide from it. They accept their dark birthmark and make the best of it through acknowledgment, reconciliation, and acceptance. All while sharing the joy that sprang from their shores in the form of the world’s most popular musical act. It’s a challenging balancing act that the town fathers have pulled off. There’s a significant focus on the Beatles and places you can visit here like Strawberry Fields orphanage and the aft mentioned Penny Lane. But you also need to allocate time for the Merseyside Maritime and the vast variety of other museums like The Museum of Liverpool and World Museum., You can peruse The Cavern Club replica inside The Beatles Story museum and the real one in an afternoon. Not to mention the birthplaces of Lennon and McCartney and the fateful spot of their first meeting. The museum is a worthy tribute with cool reenactments of Lennon’s and McCarney’s early housing situations and odes to George Martin as well as the recording facilities that sonic history was produced in. You can also venture out to other musical landmarks here like Eleanor Rigby’s grave and of course grab that “four of fish” from the Penny Lane Fish and Chips Shop. Give yourself a couple of days as Liverpool will reveal itself to you “with places you remember.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXueukxz7Zo

Which brings us to, what should a place be if it can never live up to the images you conjured up in your mind when you heard the song? Can there ever be such a place? Probably no. That's what artists as songwriters do. They capture the potential of a place in emotion. You could be waiting all day for a girl in a pick up to toot her horn at you or completely understand the feeling just by listening to ‘Take it Easy” one time.

Do any of these places come even close to conjuring the emotion in their song sake? Not really though walking on the gravestones in Winchester Cathedral came close and the taste of the English Channel’s seawater did make me feel like a Mod for a brief second, however, the music itself travels well enough.