When I heard Three Dog Night sing "Road to Shambala" I didn't understand the reference.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDpVS7D9AJs

In Tibetan Buddhist and Indian Buddhist traditions, Shambhala (also spelled Shambala or Shamballa) is a mythical kingdom hidden somewhere in Inner Asia. It is mentioned in various ancient texts, including the Kalachakra Tantra and the ancient texts of the Zhang Zhung culture which predated Tibetan Buddhism in western Tibet.

All preceeding and forthcoming yada-yada is provided courtesy of Wikipedia ...

Shangri-La is a fictional place described in the 1933 novel Lost Horizon by British author James Hilton. Hilton describes Shangri-La as a mystical, harmonious valley, gently guided from a lamasery, enclosed in the western end of the Kunlun Mountains. Shangri-La has become synonymous with any earthly paradise but particularly a mythical Himalayan utopia — a permanently happy land, isolated from the outside world. In the novel Lost Horizon, the people who live at Shangri-La are almost immortal, living years beyond the normal lifespan and only very slowly aging in appearance. The word also evokes the imagery of exoticism of the Orient. In the ancient Tibetan scriptures, existence of seven such places is mentioned as Nghe-Beyul Khimpalung. Khembalung is one of several beyuls ("hidden lands" similar to Shangri-La) believed to have been created by Padmasambhava in the 8th century as idylic, sacred places of refuge for Buddhists during times of strife (Reinhard 1978).

The use of the term Shangri-La is frequently cited as a modern reference to Shambhala, a mythical kingdom in Tibetan Buddhist tradition, which was sought by Eastern and Western explorers; Hilton was also inspired by then-current National Geographic articles on Tibet, which referenced the legend.

Is it my imagination, or does My Maria sound a lot like Road to Shambala (or vice versa)?

My Maria - B.W. Stevenson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9iJ1sUDF6g&feature=related

The well-known cover of Road to Shambala by the rock band Three Dog Night appeared in 1973 on the Hot 100, reaching #3 in both the pop singles and adult contemporary categories. Another cover recorded by Texan singer-songwriter B. W. Stevenson had also reached the charts, peaking at #66 on the Hot 100 during its eight-week run. My Maria went to #9 on country charts in 1973.

More escapism -

Never Been to Spain - Three Dog Night
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dm6qw_yeo6o&feature=related

but I've been to Portugal (and Oklahoma, but I never really stayed there).

The song that partly inspired this group ....

Goodbye, Stranger - Supertramp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFv5lgT8mc8


It was an early morning yesterday
I was up before the dawn
And I really have enjoyed my stay
But I must be moving on

Like a king without a castle
Like a queen without a throne
I'm an early morning lover
And I must be moving on

Now I believe in what you say
Is the undisputed truth
But I have to have things my own way
To keep me in my youth

Like a ship without an achor
Like a slave without a chain
Just the thought of those sweet ladies
Sends a shiver through my veins

And I will go on shining
Shining like brand new
I'll never look behind me
My troubles will be few

Goodbye stranger it's been nice
Hope you find your paradise
Tried to see your point of view
Hope your dreams will all come true
Goodbye Mary, Goodbye Jane
Will we ever meet again
Feel no sorrow, feel no shame
Come tomorrow, feel no pain

Now some they do and some they don't
And some you just can't tell
And some they will and some they won't
With some it's just as well

You can laugh at my behavior
That'll never bother me
Say the devil is my savior
But I don't pay no heed

And I will go on shining
Shining like brand new
I'll never look behind me
My troubles will be few
Goodbye stranger it's been nice ...

Call Me the Breeze - Lynrd Skynrd
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsIqEq9OFxE&feature=related

Call me the breeze
I keep blowin' down the road
Well now, they call me the breeze
I keep blowin' down the road
I ain't got me nobody
I don't carry me no load
Ain't no change in the weather
Ain't no changes in me
Well, there ain't no change in the weather
Ain't no changes in me
And I ain't hidin' from nobody
Nobody's hidin' from me
Oh, that's the way its supposed to be
Well, I got that green light, baby
I got to keep movin' on
Well, I got that green light, baby
I got to keep movin' on
Well, I might go out to California
Might go down to Georgia, I don't know
Well, I dig you Georgia peaches
Makes me feel right at home
Well now, I dig you Georgia peaches
Makes me feel right at home
But I don't love me no one woman
So I can't stay in Georgia long
Well now, they call me the breeze
I keep blowin' down the road
Well now, they call me the breeze
I keep blowin' down the road
I ain't got me nobody
I don't carry me no load
Ooh, Mr. Breeze
[ From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/l/lynyrd-skynyrd-lyrics/call-me-the-breeze-lyrics.html ]

Eight Miles High - The Byrds
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bMjUU972So&feature=related

Eight miles high and when you touch down
You’ll find that it’s stranger than known
Signs in the street that say where you’re going
Are somewhere just being their own

Nowhere is there warmth to be found
Among those afraid of losing their ground
Rain gray town known for it’s sound
In places small faces abound

Round the squares huddled in storms
Some laughing some just shapeless forms
Sidewalk scenes and black limousines
Some living some standing alone


This song opened the door to Yes.

South Side of the Sky - Yes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XC-FrJ8W0Yc&feature=related

A river a mountain to be crossed
the sunshine in mountains sometimes lost
around the south side so cold that we cried
were we ever colder on that day a million miles away
it seemed from all of eternity

Move forward was my friends only cry
in deeper to somewhere we could lie
and rest for the day with cold in the way
were we ever colder on that day a million miles away
it seemed from all of eternity

The moments seemed lost in all the noise
a snow storm a stimulating voice
of warmth of the sky of warmth when you die
were we ever warmer on that day a million miles away
we seemed for all of eternity

The sunshine in mountains sometimes lost
the river can disregard the cost
and melt in the sky warmth when you die
were we ever warmer on that day a million miles away
we seemed from all of eternity

Roundabout - Yes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQKqrC9cT_s

"we'll spend the day your way
driving to the sound and in and out the valley
...
in and around the lake,
mountains come out of the sky
and they stand there"

Singer/songwriter Jon Anderson has said the lyrics to the song were inspired by a long tour van ride from northern Scotland to north England, which featured many traffic-clogged roundabouts along with mountain and lake scenery

When Yes performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 2003, lead singer Jon Anderson said, "This is a song about climbing mountains. It's dangerous, but we all must climb mountains every day." The liner notes to the remastered edition of Fragile aren't so optimistic, describing South Side of the Sky as a song about a tragic polar expedition that ends in death. (thanks to Tom of Eaton, NY via Songfacts dot com)

WOW
Impressive! Good songs, interesting info
WOW again

The B-52's - Roam

This was on Wiki about the song-
"The Discovery Channel used 'Roam' in its own television commercials throughout the late 1990s."

QUOTE from a song meaning site-
"Roam, if you want to..." a lovely and poetic invitation to explore anywhere one may like on the geography; the terrain of the earth, visiting all it's best landmarks and leaving no stone unturned."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCUnzcUMJHc

I hear a wind
Whistling air
Whispering in my ear

Boy Mercury shootin' through every degree
Oooh girl dancin' down those dirty and dusty trails
Take it hip to hip rocket through the wilderness
Around the world the trip begins with a kiss

Roam if you want to
Roam around the world
Roam if you want to
Without wings, without wheels
Roam if you want to
Roam around the world
Roam if you want to
Without anything but the love we feel

Skip the air strip to the sunset
(yeah)Ride the arrow for the target-one
Take it hip to hip rock it through the wilderness
Around the world the trip begins with a kiss

Chorus

Fly the great big sky
See the great big sea
Kick through continents
Bustin' boundaries
Take it hip to hip rocket through the wilderness
Around the world the trip begins with a kiss

Chorus

Take it hip to hip rocket through the wilderness(x8)

Anywhere The Wind Blows by Southern Pacific

FROM WIKI-Formed in 1983 with former Doobie Brothers members Keith Knudsen, John McFee and bassist Jerry Scheff. Additional founding members include, Tim Goodman on vocals and keyboardist Glen Hardin.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=155VYi-5OxA



Anyway the wind blows
Any way the wind blows

Back when we were wild and ready
On the edge of a dust bowl city
Cadillac rollin steady
Anyway the wind blows

Life was an infinite number
Livin one day to another
Lookin for the end of summer
Any way the wind blows

And we can’t see around the bend
We never know where the road might end
We just go any way the wind blows

Burnin both ends of the candle
Can’t worry bout the things that we don’t know
Going just as fast as we can go
Anyway the wind blows

Doesn’t matter if we lead or follow
No telling where we’ll be tomorrow
Goin somewhere, goin full throttle
Anyway the wind blows

And we don’t know what lies in store
But still we walk through that open door
We just go anyway the wind blows

Any way the wind blows
Any way the wind blows

Who can say what might have been
We gotta play out the hand were given
Take a ride to the place were driven
Any way the wind blows

And we can’t see around the bend
We never know where the road might end
We just go any way the wind blows
We just go any way the wind blows
We just go any way the wind blows

Anyway the wind blows
Ooohh
Any way the wind blows (Anyway the wind blows )
Any way the wind blows ( Ain’t no telling where we’ll be tomorrow )
Any way the wind blows ( Anyway )
Anyway the wind blows
Ooohh
Anyway the wind blows

Flying (instrumental) - The Beatles
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14flwvMjyAQ

J.J. Cale - Durango

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3G_msX9iHwg&feature=related

Instrumental
FROM WIKI-
JJ Cale (also J.J. Cale), born John Weldon Cale on December 5, 1938, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, is a Grammy Award-winning American singer-songwriter and musician. Cale is one of the originators of the Tulsa Sound, a loose genre drawing on blues, rockabilly, country, and jazz influences. Cale's personal style has often been described as "laid back".

The Way - Fastball
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0wfu3tOrtQ

They made up their minds
And they started packing
They left before the sun came up that day
An exit to eternal summer slacking
But where were they going Without ever knowing the way?
They drank up the wine
And they got to talking
They now had more important things to say
And when the car broke down They started walking
Where were they going without ever knowing the way?

CHORUS:

Anyone could see The road that they walk on is paved in gold
And It's always summer, they'll never get cold
They'll Never get hungry
They'll never get old and gray
You can see their shadows Wandering off somewhere
They won't make it home
But they really don't care
They wanted the highway
They're happier there today , today

The children woke up
And they couldn't find 'em
They Left before the sun came up that day
They just drove off
And left it all behind 'em
But Where were they going Without ever knowing the way?

Anyone could see The road that they walk on is paved in gold
And It's always summer, they'll never get cold
They'll Never get hungry
They'll never get old and gray
You can see their shadows Wandering off somewhere
They Won't make it home
But they really don't care
They wanted the highway
They're happy there today

total Led-Zeppelin-powered fantasy ...

Battle of Evermore - Led Zeppelin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHJH0ETi8D4


Immigrant Song - Led Zeppelin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBmueYJ0VhA

"We come from the land of the ice and snow
from the midnight sun where the hot springs blow

The hammer of the gods will drive our ships to new lands
To fight the horde and sing and cry, Valhalla, I am coming

On we sweep with, with threshing oar
Our only goal will be the western shore

We come from the land of the ice and snow
from the midnight sun where the hot springs flow

How soft your fields, so green
can whisper tales of gore,
of how we calmed the tides of war
We are your overlords

On we sweep, with threshing oar
Our only goal will be the western shore

So now you better stop and rebuild all your ruins
for peace and trust can win the day despite of all you're losing"



Kashmir - Led Zeppelin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfR_HWMzgyc

"Oh let the sun beat down upon my face, stars to fill my dreams. I am a traveler of both time and space to be where I have been."