I have always loved the Route 66 song because just humming the tune would always put me in a good mood. While doing research on America's Mother Road, I found out there is more to the song lyrics than I had heard on recordings.

"(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66", often rendered simply as "Route 66", is a popular song and rhythm and blues standard, composed in 1946 by American songwriter Bobby Troup. It was first recorded in the same year by Nat King Cole. Here are the lyrics to the song as recorded by Cole.

If you ever plan to motor west
Travel my way, take the highway that's the best
A-get your kicks on Route sixty-six

It winds from Chicago to LA
More than two thousand miles all the way
Get your kicks on Route sixty-six

Now you go through Saint Looey
Joplin, Missouri
And Oklahoma City looks mi-ighty pretty
You'll see Amarillo
Gallup, New Mexico
Flagstaff, Arizona
Don't forget Winona
Kingman, Barstow, San Bernandino

Won't you get hip to this timely tip
When you make that California trip
A-get your kicks on Route sixty-six

Won't you get hip to this ti-imely tip
When you make a-that California trip
A-get your kicks on Route sixty-six
A-get your kicks on Route sixty-six
Get your kicks on Route sixty-six

These lyrics and slight variations thereof seem to be the most popular lyrics used in hundreds of recordings by dozens of artists. However, Troup had originally penned more words to the arrangement which were faithfully recorded by Perry Como in 1959. Como's version  is more complete, including the seldom-heard second verse and also the introductory verse.

Mister . . . you may . . . have traveled near or far,
But you haven't seen the country,
'Till you've seen the country by car!

Mister . . . may I . . . recommend a royal route?
It starts in Illinois, let me tell you boy!
If you ever plan to motor west,
Travel my way, take the highway, that's the best!
Get your kicks . . . on Route 66!

It winds from Chicago to L.A.,
More than two thousand miles all the way!
Get your kicks . . . on Route 66!

Now, you go through St. Louis, Joplin, Missouri,
And Oklahoma City is a mighty purdy!
You'll see Amarillo, Gallup, New Mexico,
Flagstaff, Arizona, don't forget Winona,
Kingman, Barstow, San Bernardino!

Won't you get hip to this timely tip,
When you make that California trip?
Get your kicks . . . on Route 66!

Springfield, Illinois . . . Springfield, Missouri too!
Seven states, count 'em, seven,
Spread out in front of you!



You'll like the aroma, of Tulsa, Oklahoma,
Albuquerque and Tucumcari, make
New Mexico extraordinary!
You'll wanna own a piece of Arizona,
Needles, Essex, Amboy, Azusa,
No one in sunny Cal is a loser . . .

So . . . get hip to this timely tip,
When you make that California trip!
If any Joe . . . tells you to go . . . some other way,
Say nix!
Get your kicks . . . on Route 66!

Troup was an accomplished jazz pianist in addition to songwriter. The influence of swing style jazz is apparent and contagious in the song which has become an American standard and and the unofficial anthem of America's Mother Road. I personally like the version performed by Asleep at the Wheel because it maintains the original beat and then throws in a little western swing to boot.

If you are interested, you can watch Asleep at the Wheel performing "Route 66" on YouTube.

Be sure to view some images, video and audio clips I have captured along Route 66 and selected randomly from the Gallery. Route 66 in the Gallery