Roger Miller Soared With No. 1 Country Hit 'King Of The Road' & It's Still A Hit Today

Mar 08, 2023 by apost team

Roger Miller was a Country music star known for his “honky-tonk-influenced novelty songs” like “England Swings,” "Chug-a-Lug," "Engine Engine #9," "Husbands and Wives," "You Can't Rollerskate in a Buffalo Herd," "Heartbreak Hotel," "Little Green Apples," and "Me and Bobby McGee," among many others. 

Throughout his career, Miller has released a total of 19 studio albums; this included “Roger and Out,” The 3rd Time Around,” “The 3rd Time Around,” “Words and Music,” and “Roger Miller (The Tunes that Launched the Roger Miller Career),” and many more compilations and live albums. 

Born in Fort Worth, Texas, Miller was the third son of Jean and Lauden Miller. He was still a child during the Great Depression; his mother then sent him along with his three brothers to live with his father’s brothers in Erick, Oklahoma. 

Growing up “dirt poor,” Miller was educated at a one-room schoolhouse and was introverted. But during those time, Miller recalled daydreaming about composing songs. It was his cousin’s husband, singer Sheb Wooley, who taught him his first guitar chores through a fiddle. Thanks to Wooley, Hank Williams, and Bob Wills, Miller was inspired to become a singer-songwriter. 

Ditching school and the rural life, Miller went on to perform in Oklahoma and Texas – even stealing a guitar at 17 years old out of desperation to write songs at the time. 

But perhaps that move led Miller to dream; after serving in the United States Army, Miller then began pursuing his career in music in the early 1950s as a songwriter. Eventually, he hit the charts after signing to RCA Records in 1960 with his song “You Don't Want My Love,” which peaked at No. 14. 

Since then, Miller’s career took off, spewing hit after hit and eventually releasing perhaps his most popular song ever, “King of the Road.”

Recorded in November 1964, “King of the Road” went down as Miller’s second No. 1 Country hit after “Dang Me.” 

The country record went on to reach No. 1 on the US Country charts, marking Miller’s first breakthrough on the coveted listing. Concurrently, the song also reached the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at No. 4. The song also topped the Easy Listening Surveys back in 1964, as well as the UK Singles Chart and Norway’s. 

According to Miller, the song was inspired when he was driving and saw a sign on the side of a barn that read “Trailers for sale or rent” – the phrase then became the opening line of the song.n 

The single was released on Miller’s sophomore album, “The Return of Roger Miller.” It reached No. 2 on the Country Albums chart and No. 4 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. Ultimately, the Recording Industry Association of America certified it as Gold. 

The project garnered positive reviews from critics, even pointing out that “King of The Road” was “perhaps the most perfect country song ever written,” as it was packed with detail and nuance like a Vincent van Gogh painting.

“King of the Road” received further acclaim when it took home four Gramophones at the 1965 Grammy Awards. It got him Best Male Country Vocal Performance, Best Country and Western Recording, Best Male Contemporary Vocal Performance, and Best Contemporary Rock 'N Roll Single. The album, on the other hand, went home with a Grammy for Best Country and Western Album. 

However, Miller was diagnosed with lung cancer and passed away on Oct. 25, 1992, the day before his last performance was aired on television. He was posthumously inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1995.

apost.com

“King of the Road” was released in January 1965 via Smash Records, a subsidiary of Mercury Records which saw the careers of Frankie Valli, James Brown, Bruce Channel, The Left Banke, Bill Justis, Jerry Lee Lewis, and many more veteran artists. 

Breaking down the song’s lyrics, “King of the Road” narrates the everyday life of a hobo, a modern description of a migrant worker in the countryside. Despite having little money, the “King of the Road” revels in his freedom, giving himself such a humorous and cynical title.

“I sing, trailers for sale or rent. Rooms to let, 50 cents. No phone, no pool, no pets. I ain't got no cigarettes,” Miller sang on the chorus. “Ah, but, two hours of pushin' broom. Buys an eight by twelve four-bit room. I'm a man of means by no means, King of the road.” 

Because of how iconic the song was, it has been covered plenty of times by various artists. Rock band R.E.M. had their own rendition of the country hit song described to be in a “shambolic, drunken, offhand” cover. 

Jody Miller then answered the song with a beautiful response, titled “Queen of the House.” It was a perfect callback to the song, which in her version, narrates the everyday life of a stay-at-home mom.

Like its predecessor, the song hit No. 5 on the Hot Country Singles Chart, No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, and even took home a Grammy for Female Country Vocal Performance at the 1966 Grammy Awards. 

And 58 years since it was released, we still can’t help but groove on the song when it is played on the radio – talk about longevity and impact!

Are you a fan of Roger Miller? What do you think about his song? Do you prefer the original version or the cover version? Let us know, and pass this on to your family, friends, or other fans who love classic songs like this one!