A drive on the interstates of West Virginia is one that encompasses a lot of facets. I don't think I would be able to sum up the drive in any single emotion. As you head across the border from the southeastern part of Ohio, you actually wouldn't really know you have crossed into a new state. Unlike many other states where a river serves as a natural boundary between the two, the passage from Ohio into West Virginia is much less dramatic.
As you continue through the state, you start to get into the more mountainous areas. Obviously, these particular areas are quite beautiful. There is something truly fantastic about cutting through the mountains, following a path that officials deemed the best route all those years ago. Seeing the way they carved these byways out of the rock to become part of the lifeblood of America.
However, as you begin to look closer, you start to see a much different image of West Virginia in the small towns and industrial centers that wind their way through the valleys along the shores of the Kanawha River. Interstate 64 through Charleston and beyond is one of the best ways to see what I am talking about. It might not be as dramatic as the views from the New River, but it is no less memorable.
It's almost like you are driving through an area that time forgot. On our first trip through there I thought about what life must be like living down in one of those small communities, isolated by mountains and miles from any major city. Is it a simpler life, or does the situation make it that much harder.
My brother in law has an abject distaste for West Virginia. I'm not sure why, but he's just not that fond of it. While I kind of understand why, I also see a sad beauty to the state that somehow pulls and me and wills me to explore and learn more about the 35th state. Funny, I would have thought the number had been lower than that. Given the proximity to the coast, I feel like it would have been at least in the top 25. I guess when you consider it used to be part of Virginia, then it makes a bit more sense.
In case you haven't figure it out yet, we are heading into West Virginia this week for #threetunetuesday. Given the name of the state, it shouldn't be too surprising that there were not so many songs easily accessible for this week. Of course, there is one that should immediately pop into your head, and I will share that one first, but as for other ones, it wasn't as easy as I would have thought.
Of course the song I am talking about is none other than "Take Me Home, Country Roads" by John Denver. Now, if you are a fan of the movie Super Troopers, you can never say the name John Denver without doing your best Farva imitation and saying "Mr. sunshine on my god damn shoulders John Denver", but I digress. This is a really timeless song that has become a fan favorite over the years. Especially this year thanks to it somehow becoming a standard and anthem for the World Cup. I can't really figure out how that happened, but who knows.
It was definitely cool to see stadiums of people sing along to it during many of the matches. While he does get a lot of grief, I am personally a big John Denver fan. Yes, he was a bit goofy, but he could write a song really well, and his commitment to nature is something that we should all strive for. I think he realized a lot of things about inner peace that many people are still trying to figure out. Of course weed and the Rocky Mountains could play a big part in that, but who knows!
When you think of West Virginia, The White Stripes probably aren't the first band that comes to mind, but they do have a song called "This Protector", and in that song, they do specifically say West Virginia, so it felt only right that I should include this song in here. Mostly so it isn't all country style songs that I share with you today, but also because any time you get a chance to share a song by The White Stripes or Jack White as a solo artist, you absolutely should. He is so absolutely amazing.
I'd love to see him in concert again. I know he recently did some shows just outside of Detroit this past summer. In fact, I think it was a whole festival that he hosted down at Pine Knob, but I could be wrong. Anyway, I felt obliged to share this song with you today as we make our journey through West Virginia.
It's only right that I should finish this post off with a great song by Tyler Childers. If you have never heard of him you really should take a deep dive into the rest of his work. He has a great voice and a wonderful way of writing really thoughtful and provocative lyrics. He is probably one of my favorite artists in that singer/songwriter vein that is so popular right now. It's kind of an old soul sort of thing that artists like Ray LaMontagne brought to the front of popular music.
"Feathered Indians" only has one direct reference to West Virginia in it, but it still tells a really great story of what a small slice of life might have been like growing up in that part of the world. I really hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
We only have two states left from here, can you believe it? Be sure to check back next week when we roll into our penultimate state of Wisconsin!
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