3 Hit Songs From the 1970s That Were Written on the Road

Some of the greatest songs of the decade were inspired by the open highway.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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This article explores three hit songs from the 1970s that were written while the artists were on the road touring. The songs include "Coyote" by Joni Mitchell, "Turn the Page" by Bob Seger, and "The Ties That Bind" by Bruce Springsteen.

Why it matters

These stories highlight how the creative process can be sparked by the experiences and inspiration that come from being on the road. The open highway and interactions with strangers along the way can fuel songwriting in unexpected ways, leading to some of the most iconic songs of the era.

The details

"Coyote" by Joni Mitchell was inspired by her brief connection with actor and musician Sam Shepard during Bob Dylan's 1975-1976 tour, which is documented in Martin Scorsese's film about the tour. "Turn the Page" by Bob Seger was written in 1972 when he was on the road with the band Teegarden & Van Winkle, inspired by an incident at a truck stop. "The Ties That Bind" by Bruce Springsteen was written while he was on the Darkness Tour in 1978, intended to be the title track of an album that never materialized.

  • In 1977, Joni Mitchell released the album Hejira, which included the song "Coyote".
  • In 1972, Bob Seger wrote "Turn the Page" while on tour with Teegarden & Van Winkle.
  • Between September and October 1978, Bruce Springsteen wrote "The Ties That Bind" while on the Darkness Tour.

The players

Joni Mitchell

A Canadian singer-songwriter who was a prominent figure in the 1970s folk music scene.

Sam Shepard

An American actor, playwright, and director who briefly connected with Joni Mitchell during Bob Dylan's 1975-1976 tour.

Bob Seger

An American singer-songwriter and musician who is known for his classic rock hits.

Teegarden & Van Winkle

An American rock band that Bob Seger toured with in the early 1970s.

Bruce Springsteen

An American singer-songwriter and musician who is known as "The Boss" and is considered one of the greatest songwriters of his generation.

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What they’re saying

“'When I walked in [to a truck stop], there was this gauntlet of truckers making comments – 'Is that a girl or man?' I was seething; those guys were laughing their asses off, a big funny joke. That next night, after we played our gig – I think it was Mitchell, S.D. – Seger says, 'Hey, I've been working on this song for a bit, I've got this new line for it.' He played it on acoustic guitar, and there was that line: 'Oh, the same old cliches / 'Is that a woman or a man?'' It was 'Turn The Page.'”

— David Teegarden, Drummer, Teegarden & Van Winkle (americansongwriter.com)

The takeaway

These stories showcase how the creative process can be sparked by the experiences and inspiration that come from being on the road. The open highway and interactions with strangers can fuel songwriting in unexpected ways, leading to some of the most iconic songs of the 1970s.