Why do NFL fans sing 'Country Roads' in Germany? Exploring hit songs Oktoberfest origins

All country roads apparently lead to Germany.

"Country Roads (Take Me Home)," the popular John Denver song has gone international, with NFL fans in Germany claiming the song as their own for the annual Munich game. From the countryside in West Virginia to the streets of Europe, it's a fascinating choice of song that connects two polar opposite worlds that also have a language barrier.

Bridged together by song and pigskin, music and football have found a way to unite the world in ways that many can only dream of. Here's a look at how the 1971 hit became the NFL's German anthem.

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more

Why do they sing 'Country Roads' in Germany?

American influence can be found everywhere, so it's not surprising to see a West Virginia-related hit song make its way across the pond to Europe.

Before there was the Munich game, there was Oktoberfest. The very large German festival, known for its beer drinking, is one of the places where "Country Roads," began to take hold. Like most inebriated, bratwurst-loving, schnitzel eating people, it's hard to not be taken away by the tune. The gist is that the American hit is simply a fun song to sing along with. Bill Danoff, who wrote the song, was asked about it's German popularity in a 2013 interview with the Washington Post.

"I have no idea,” Danoff said. He added that he'd never been to Germany, an interesting note considering he never went to West Virginia either before writing the song. Although he eventually arrived at the same conclusion most people do when confronted with the thought.

“First of all, it’s very singable,” Danoff said. “But so is ‘Call Me Maybe.’ Maybe ‘Call Me Maybe’ will be the song 40 years from now.”

By all accounts, Carly Rae Jepsen hasn't unseated Danoff and Denver's hit yet, something that doesn't seem like it'll be the case anytime soon.

As the story goes, that song would make its way into the stadium for the NFL's first game in Munich. From Munich to Frankfurt, that appears to have been established as a tradition that isn't going anywhere, anytime soon.

When did fans start singing 'Country Roads' at NFL games in Germany?

People first began to take notice of the song's popularity in Germany when the crowd sang along during the Seahawks vs. Buccaneers game in 2022. That one-off turned into an encore performance when the league returned in 2023. As the international series continues to grow, and with Germany being a permanent stop on the list, it's safe to say Denver's legacy goes well beyond United States' soil.

Now it's up to the other cities to find their own tune.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why do NFL fans sing 'Country Roads' in Germany? John Denver hit song