The song was adapted from earlier blues songs and includes mid-1960s psychedelic rock elements. Unlike most of Canned Heat's songs from the period, second guitarist and harmonica player Alan Wilson provides the distinctive falsetto vocal. "On the Road Again" first appeared on their second album, Boogie with Canned Heat, in January 1968; when an edited version was released as a single in April 1968, "On the Road Again" became Canned Heat's first record chart hit and one of their best-known songs.

With his record company's encouragement, Chicago blues musician Floyd Jones recorded a song titled "On the Road Again" in 1953. It was a remake of his successful 1951 song "Dark Road". Both songs are based on Mississippi Delta bluesman Tommy Johnson's 1928 song "Big Road Blues" (Canned Heat took their name from Johnson's 1928 song "Canned Heat Blues").

Lyrics

Well, I'm so tired of crying

But I'm out on the road again

I'm on the road again

Well, I'm so tired of crying

But I'm out on the road again

I'm on the road again

I ain't got no woman

Just to call my special friend

You know the first time I traveled

Out in the rain and snow

In the rain and snow

You know the first time I traveled

Out in the rain and snow

In the rain and snow

I didn't have no payroll

Not even no place to go

And my dear mother left me

When I was quite young

When I was quite young

And my dear mother left me

When I was quite young

When I was quite young

She said "Lord, have mercy

On my wicked son"

Take a hint from me, mama

Please don't you cry no more

Don't you cry no more

Take a hint from me, mama

Please don't you cry no more

Don't you cry no more

'Cause it's soon one morning

Down the road I'm going

But I ain't going down

That long old lonesome road

All by myself

But I ain't going down

That long old lonesome road

All by myself

I can't carry you, baby

Gonna carry somebody else

Songwriters: Willie Nelson

On the Road Again lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc