Sitting in the middle of nowhere, just listening to your travel buddy playing a simple song on the harmonica.
Or maybe you have a cold beer at your hostel, and someone starts playing guitar.
Actually it’s a song you listened a thousand times, and this time it’s special. Whenever you hear this song from now on, it turns you right back to this special place, this special moment no one can ever take away from you!
We found and collected even more, such as
- +17 more alternative travel songs to explore the world
- the +29 songs to add for your perfect backpacker playlist
- 9 travel quiz to challenge your travel thirst
- 75 best travel songs for your mix tape
- 33 best travel movies of all time
Turn the volume up, here are 10 Songs for Backpackers we love.
…because every good story deserves some amazing background music!
1. The House of the Rising Sun – The Animals
There is a house in New Orleans
They call the Rising Sun,
And it’s been the ruin of many young poor boys.
And god, I know I’m one.
2. The Passenger – Iggy Popp
I am the passenger
I stay under glass
I look through my window so bright
I see the stars come out tonight
I see the bright and hollow sky
Over the city’s ripped backsides
And everything looks good tonight
3. This Is The Life – Amy Macdonald
Oh the wind whistles down
The cold dark street tonight
And the people they were dancing to the music vibe
And the boys chase the girls with the curls in their hair
While the shy tormented youth sit way over there
And the songs they get louder
Each one better than before
4. The Travel Song – Pilate
The road seen beneath the van’s headlights
It’s cold, so cold, cold enough to feel your sigh
My face up against the window now
Don’t you know it’s cold outside?
Pick up your life as I pass by
Can’t you see I’m cold inside
5. Guaranteed (Into The Wild) – Eddie Vedder
The movie “Into The Wild” is a beautiful movie for everyone looking for special backpacker and travel movies. The video below shows some scenes taken out of “Into The Wild” – enjoy!
Here are the lyrics:
Don’t come closer or I’ll have to go
Holding me like gravity are places that pull
If ever there was someone to keep me at home
It would be you…
6. World Spins Madly On – The Weepies
A sad song about the world spins on and on and on. Therefore you should not resign. Go out and get active!
I let the day go by
I always say goodbye
I watch the stars from my window sill
The whole world is moving and I’m standing still
7. Let’s See How Far We’ve Come – Matchbox Twenty
I’m wakin’ up at the start of the end of the world
But it’s feeling just like every other morning before
Now I wonder what my life is gonna mean if it’s gone
The cars are moving like a half a mile an hour and I
Started staring at the passengers and waving goodbye
Can you tell me what was ever really special about me all this time?
8. Summer Cat – Billie the Vision & the Dancers
I wore a T-shirt and my worn out hat.
Abandoned as a summer cat.
And as I stood there as a broken hearted
I realized you got the car keys still.
So I broke into my own old car.
I fell asleep on the passenger seat.
I dreamed of summer with you and you whispered in my ear:
Tonight tonight tonight tonight
I wanna be with you Tonight tonight tonight tonight
I wanna be with you tonight
Why can’t you leave me tomorrow instead?
Why can’t you leave me tomorrow instead?
9. Trip The Light – Garry Schyman
This might be one of the most famous travel songs out there. Known as the background music of the popular video from “Where the Hell is Matt”, Garry Schyman is a classic for backpackers around the world.
And in the morning light I’ll remember
As the sun will rise
We are all the glowing embers
Of a distant fire
We’re gonna trip the light
We’re gonna break the night
And we’ll see with new eyes
When we trip the light
10. A Pocket Full Of Shells – Mat McHugh
Followed a trail of poison crumbs.
We got lost pretending, undone.
Then our blood fell from the clouds,
the wind it screamed, the sea it howled.
And every cold, dry morning,
crows sing of how there’s ice forming on the lake.
Oh yes somebody called me, said they saw you.
Said you were looking older but just the same.
When are you coming home?
It must be freezing out today…
11. Africa – Toto
I hear the drums echoing tonight
But she hears only whispers of some quiet conversation
She’s coming in, 12:30 flight
The moonlit wings reflect the stars that guide me towards salvation
I stopped an old man along the way
Hoping to find some old forgotten words or ancient melodies
He turned to me as if to say, “Hurry boy, it’s waiting there for you”
12. Jon Bon Jovi – It’s my Life
This ain’t a song for the broken-hearted
No silent prayer for the faith-departed
I ain’t gonna be just a face in the crowd
You’re gonna hear my voice
When I shout it out loud
It’s my life
It’s now or never
I ain’t gonna live forever
I just want to live while I’m alive
(It’s my life)
My heart is like an open highway
Like Frankie said
I did it my way
I just want to live while I’m alive
It’s my life
13. Oasis – Wonderwall
Today is gonna be the day
That they’re gonna throw it back to you
By now you should’ve somehow
Realized what you gotta do
I don’t believe that anybody
Feels the way I do, about you now
Backbeat, the word was on the street
That the fire in your heart is out
I’m sure you’ve heard it all before
But you never really had a doubt
I don’t believe that anybody
Feels the way I do about you now
14. Coldplay – Sky full of stars
‘Cause you’re a sky, ’cause you’re a sky full of stars
I’m gonna give you my heart
‘Cause you’re a sky, ’cause you’re a sky full of stars
‘Cause you light up the path
I don’t care, go on and tear me apart
I don’t care if you do ooh ooh
‘Cause in a sky, ’cause in a sky full of stars
I think I saw you
15. The Black Eyed Peas – I Gotta Feeling
I gotta feel
I gotta feeling, that tonight, that tonight
That tonight’s gonna be a good, good, good, good, good
Good, good, good, good, good, good, good, good, good, good
Good, good, good, good, good, good, good, good, good, good
Good, good, good, good, good, good, good, good, good night
I feel it, woohoo
I feel it, woohoo
16. Lynyrd Skynyrd – “Sweet Home Alabama”
Big wheels keep on turning
Carry me home to see my kin
Singing songs about the south-land
I miss ‘ole’ ‘bamy once again
And I think it’s a sin, yes
Well I heard Mister Young sing about her
Well I heard old Neil put her down
Well, I hope Neil Young will remember
A southern man don’t need him around anyhow
Sweet home Alabama
Where the skies are so blue
Sweet home Alabama
Lord, I’m coming home to you
17. Steppenwolf – Born To Be Wild
Get your motor runnin’
Head out on the highway
Lookin’ for adventure
And whatever comes our way
Yeah Darlin’ go make it happen
Take the world in a love embrace
Fire all of your guns at once
And explode into space
I like smoke and lightning
Heavy metal thunder
Racin’ with the wind
And the feelin’ that I’m under
Yeah Darlin’ go make it happen
Take the world in a love embrace
Fire all of your guns at once
And explode into space
18. Asaf Avidan – One Day Baby We’ll Be Old
No more tears, my heart is dry
I don’t laugh and I don’t cry
I don’t think about you all the time
But when I do I wonder why
You had to go out of my door
And leave just like you did before
I know I said that I was sure
But rich men can’t imagine poor
One day baby, we’ll be old
Oh baby, we’ll be old
And think of all the stories that we could have told
Do you want more travel songs?
Fair enough!
- +17 more alternative travel songs to explore the world
- The best 10 Backpacking songs on the world
- best 75 travel songs of all time
Also, check out our YouTube Channel with the best travel songs out there!
We always keep our YouTube playlist up to date. So make sure you stay connected. And please feel free to share this list with your travel buddies and followers – we appreciate it and so will your friends!
Also, take a look at all travel tips we could find – might be useful for you and your ukulele!
Safe travels,
The Hostelgeeks
