How 'Country Roads' became the unofficial anthem of the World Cup

Look, we all agree the hydration breaks during World Cup matches are awful, right? Yes, yes, in theory they're supposed to keep players from collapsing in dehydrated heaps on the pitch, but in practice, they're just an opportunity to cram more ads into a broadcast. They disrupt momentum, they alter the flow of the match, and they're an unnecessary and unwelcome addition … with one notable, musical exception. 

World Cup stadiums are using the hydration break as an opportunity to play "Country Roads," and it's glorious, every single time. 

"U-S-A!" is our big, loud, stomping declaration of patriotism. The seven notes of "Seven Nation Army" are the horns of an invading army, but they've been co-opted by plenty of other nations. John Denver's "Country Roads," though — that's America itself in four chords and a transcendent chorus.  

Try it yourself next time you're out at the sports bar/pub/grandstand. Sing the first four words — Almost heaven, West Virginia — and by the next five — Blue Ridge mountains, Shenandoah River — the crowd is singing along with you. No matter whether they're European or African, Asian or South American, they sing along to the gentle melody of the timeless John Denver classic. Listen close, and you can hear the accents as the lyrics flow by like miles on the highway. 

This World Cup has given the entire planet a new view of America, the land of ranch dressing and Buc-ee's, charming small towns and cavernous stadiums. Joyful tourists document their discoveries of Americana while Americans raise toasts and sing along with their international guests. And more than anything, they're all singing along to "Country Roads" … even if they've never been within a thousand miles of West Virginia. 

Why has "Country Roads" become such a phenomenon? Because it's quintessentially American. It's a song of the open road, a song of nostalgia for better days, a song about leaving home and then returning back to it. Most of all, it's a song that embodies the very best of America — the desire to get behind a wheel to chase a dream, and the pull back to one's own little stretch of land. 

Those are universal human yearnings, and that's what makes the song so durable. Swap in a lyric or two, and you can make our West Virginia singer's quest your own, the way this Japanese group has done:

Plus, let's be direct: the melody is absolutely perfect for a singalong, no matter how drunk you are. Unlike, say, "The Star-Spangled Banner," a janky, jagged, multi-octave anthem, "Country Roads" proceeds in a slow and stately fashion. Hell, the soaring chorus virtually demands you throw your arms around your mates and sing along, like these fine folks at an Oktoberfest celebration in Germany: 

According to legend, songwriters Bill Danoff and Taffy Nivert brought the nascent tune to singer-songwriter John Denver back in 1970, and the first time he performed it, the crowd at the tiny club immediately picked up on the chorus and sang along the second time it came around. But naturally, the record company didn't think it would be a hit. Even better — none of the three songwriters had ever even been to West Virginia. (They tried to wedge "Massachusetts" into the song's structure. Thankfully they failed.) 

Faking your way through obstacles until you find glory — man, that's pure, undistilled America right there. And now, the song is everywhere, soundtracking this year's World Cup. In a competition so often defined by corruption and commercialism, "Country Roads" is as pure as it gets. 

There will be plenty of gatherings in the weeks ahead, watching the USMNT and the other two dozen-plus teams still alive in the tournament. And where there are soccer fans, there are singalongs. And now, where there are singalongs, there's "Country Roads." 

Go ahead and join in. You already know the words.