The Story Behind John Lennon's Only Solo Country Song, "Old Dirt Road"
Despite being an American-dominated genre, there has been a fair share of foreign musicians to toil in country music. Ringo Starr, The Rolling Stones, Tommy Emmanuel, and numerous others hail from other countries yet still play the American-founded genre. However, there is one more monstrous name and figure to add to that list, the one and only, John Lennon.
For a vast amount of reasons, this might come as an enormous surprise. But, at the end of the day, Lennon’s fleeting stint in country music proves that above all, he was a pure musician. When one listens to Lennon’s 1974 country single, they might believe there is nothing country about. Though, given its use of steel guitar, American roots lyrics, and the story behind it, it is, without a doubt, John Lennon’s most country-inspired solo song.
The song came as a result of a wild weekend John Lennon and Harry Nilsson spent together in Los Angeles in 1974. In the book All We Are Saying, John Lennon told author David Sheff, “[It was done] just to write a song.” “You know, ‘Seein’ as we’re stuck in this bottle of vodka together, we might as well try and do something,” Lennon added.
Nilsson is known for his Great American Songbook and singer/songwriter folk style. Hence, it is no surprise that Lennon and Nilsson mustered up something awfully American and somewhat country. Besides the presence of the steel guitar in the song, the most country aspect of the tune is its lyrics. According to Nilsson, Lennon’s goal was to create an entirely American song.
Nilsson attested to the fact stating, “When [Lennon] was writing ‘Old Dirt Road’… he said, ‘Harry, what’s a good Americanism,” per the BBC. In addition to the title, other lines encompassing Lennon’s “Americanism” include Trying to shovel smoke with a pitchfork in the wind and It’s better than a mudslide, mama, when the dry spell come.
Source: Peter Burditt/americansongwriter.com
