When we were little, my brothers and I played this road trip game. The first person to see and call out an out of state license plate got to punch the others in the arm. Juvenile, I know. In our defense, we were kids.
We also sang the hundred bottles of beer on the wall song from 100 all the way to zero. Sometimes we’d sing it at the top of our lungs. In hindsight, it must have driven my parents nuts. And why is there a children’s song about beer, anyway?
My mom used to pack sandwiches, potato chips and fruit for the car ride. We even got to drink soda. That was a treat. It’s the simple things in life that helped make the trip fun.
We didn’t mind a six hour car ride. Sure it was long, but we made passing the time fun. There’s nothing like being a little kid going on a road trip. What great memories.
Rolling Stone put together a list of the 50 best road songs. I may not agree with the list, but I did find a song I haven’t heard in decades. Coming in at #34 is Billy Idol’s Blue Highway.
If a highway can be a metaphor for an intense drug trip, then drugs can also be a metaphor for an intense road trip. “Blue Highway” delivers on both ends of the deal. . .
OK, Billy Idol’s trips were a little different than my family’s. Why am I not surprised?
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For a complete playlist, please click here.
For the Spotify playlist, please click here.
So, my good friend
The super drug ends
I go up to the stratosphere
Brain-fry Day-Glo
Holy water for your soul
And I'll wake up in the U.S.A.
Aw, you know we're gonna ride on the blue highway
Walk with electro glide on the blue highway
Wave below to Christ on my highway
Yes, I almost died on the blue highway, hey hey
Oh, the Sons from Mars
On their stolen guitars
Out to ride the night, aah
Soul sisters, soul hitter
I hear you and I miss you
Co-starring in the U.S.A
Aw, you know we gotta ride on the blue highway - oh!
Walk with electro glide on the blue highway
Wave below to Christ on my highway - oh!
Yes, I almost died on a blue highway, hey hey
Ow!
Why do I miss you?
Why did I kiss you, because
You know we gotta ride on the blue highway (oh)
Walk with electro glide on the blue highway
Wave below to Christ on my highway
Yes, I almost died
So glad that you're living now
I'm glad that you're here
I'm glad that you wanna stay, because
You know we gotta ride on the blue highway (ow)
Walk with electro glide on the blue highway, hey hey
Wave below to Christ on my highway
Aah yes, I almost died on a blue highway, hey hey, aw
On a blue highway
Ah you singing, singing
Quaaludes and red wine for love
Yes, there's a time, a time for love
Can you kiss me on a blue highway, hey hey
(Ow, roar war)
Why do I miss you?
How do I kiss you? (ow, woo)
MyGenXerLife 
The Rolling Stone list wasn’t too bad. But there were some good songs on there. But quite frankly, the road is the last thing I think about when I hear a song like “Gin and juice“
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That’s too funny. I had the same reaction to a bunch of the songs.
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Berlin minds think alike!
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Great road trip song! Family road trips hold such wonderful memories. “Are we there yet?!”
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Hahaha… classic!
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We frequently drove 7-8 hours at least two times a year to visit my mom’s family in NJ. 100 bottles of beer was a favorite along with little bunny foo-foo. If my dad was driving, my mom would also read a book to us. And yes, if you were playing the license plate game and got a state first, you could punch the other players in the arm except parents. 🤣
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I love that you sang the same song and played the same game! Mom reading is pretty cool. I’m amazed and people who can read in the car abc not wet car sick
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I know what you mean. I don’t get carsick so when my children were little, I tried reading to them on long car trips. Nope couldn’t do it made me feel sick. I have no idea how my mom did it.
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Your mom had a super power!
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Haha…I’ll share your childhood game with my kids. They’ll love it!
I usually pack board games, books, and download some movies for them to watch during long trips. Just like your mom, sandwiches, snacks, and soft drinks are a must for our long drive trips.
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Wish we had movies in the car when we were kids!
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I have been on many a road trip since my husband and I began travelling. We actually play a similar game in the UK /Europe where we keep a record of how many different counties’ licence plates we can see en route !
When we road tripped in America and have now visited 18 different states it was state license plates being recorded. We were often shocked by how far away from home some people travelled!
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Billy Idol! I like the first comment on the video. The 80s DID have way better music than what the twenty-somethings have today.
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I think so, too but wondered if I am biased!
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