About The Song
“Ventura Highway” is a song by the American rock band America, written by Dewey Bunnell and released in 1972 on their album “Homecoming”. The song was inspired by Bunnell’s childhood memories of driving down the coast from Vandenberg Air Force Base near Lompoc, California, where they had a flat tire. While his father changed the tire, he and his brother stood by the side of the road, watched the clouds, and saw a road sign for Ventura. The song is a classic California anthem that captures the spirit of freedom and the allure of the open road, resonating with themes of exploration and escapism. The song features vivid imagery and metaphoric expressions like “alligator lizards in the air,” painting a picture of the Californian landscape and embodying the essence of wanderlust. The song peaked at #8 on the Billboard Top 40 chart.