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The lyrics of the Neil Diamond song "Blue Highway" and the premise of the book are one and the same it seems. As far as I can tell Neil Diamond's song came out in 1996 featuring Chet Atkins, (unless there was an earlier version of it I didn't hear, but I've thought it was one of his older songs from the 60s or 70s and never knew Chet Atkins played on it) and the book "Blue Highways" was first published in 1982, so I am assuming Neil was a fan of the book himself and was inspired enough to write a song about it...?

Here are the lyrics, which are great:

So long, big city; it's time to say goodbye.
I'm longing for those country roads;I need to see the sky.
Think I'll take a swing down south, visit Tennessee.
See if that girl Annie still remembers me.

Gonna take that blue highway and leave this sorry town.
Stayed too long, but now I'm gone, and I know where I'm bound.
I don't wanna take the interstate; it represents all the things I hate.
I'm rollin' down that blue highway.

So long, confusion; it's time to slow things down.
Say goodbye to my old friends, ease on out of town.
I made me some money here but paid for ev'ry day.
And ev'ry mile just makes me smile, 'cause I made my getaway.

Gonna take that blue highway and leave this sorry town.
I've stayed too long, but now I'm gone, and I know where I'm bound.
I've had it up to here with worry.From now on, I'm in no hurry,
rollin' down that blue highway.

I'll be ridin' that blue highway and leave this sorry town.
I've stayed too long, but now I'm gone, and I know where I'm bound.
I've had it up to here with worry.From now on, I'm in no hurry,
rollin' down that blue highway.
I'll be rollin' down that blue highway.
You can find me on that blue highway.

Here is a link to the song on Youtube:

Neil Diamond "Blue Highway" (featuring Chet Atkins)

Thanks for the song, Blue Highway. It does sound like the book. When I’m driving myself alone, I always try to take the blue highways. I hate driving in and around cities. Been there, done that. I like the slower pace of the countryside as well as the beauty of it. I’m actually very thankful that the Lord put me in a small town/rural community in my old age. The situation in America make city life much less attractive.