"Have Love Will Travel" was originally written and recorded by Richard Berry in 1959, inspired by the TV and radio western Have Gun, Will Travel. Berry’s version was a doo-wop/early R&B tune with lyrics about a restless narrator willing to travel anywhere for love, politely hinting at deeper desires12.
The Sonics’ Version
The most famous and influential rendition of "Have Love Will Travel" is by The Sonics, the proto-punk/garage rock band from Tacoma, Washington. Their version appeared on their 1965 debut album Here Are The Sonics and is considered a garage rock classic12.
- Sound: The Sonics transformed Berry’s original into a raw, explosive anthem. Their take is driven by a riff doubled on guitar, sax, and bass, with pounding drums, screaming vocals, and a raucous saxophone break. The arrangement epitomizes The Sonics’ aggressive, high-energy style, which would later influence punk and garage bands worldwide12.
- Musical Changes: They shifted the key from G to C, simplified the chord progression to a basic 1-4-5-4 (C-F-G-F), and performed the riff instrumentally rather than vocally. The Sonics’ version is often mistaken for using fuzz-tone guitar, but the gritty sound actually comes from the saxophone1.
- Impact: This version became the template for nearly all subsequent covers, with its intensity and attitude setting a new standard for garage rock12.
Lyrics and Themes
The song’s lyrics express wanderlust and a relentless quest for love:
"Well, I travel from Maine to Mexico
Just to find a little girl that'll love me so
No matter where, no matter where I'll be
I'm looking for a woman that'll satisfy me…"
The narrator vows to travel by any means—boat, plane, hitchhiking, train—to find love, capturing a sense of restless energy and desire2.
Cultural Legacy
- The Sonics’ "Have Love Will Travel" has been covered by a wide range of artists, including The Black Keys, Paul Revere and the Raiders, and Bruce Springsteen, and has appeared in numerous commercials and films32.
- The Sonics themselves became cult legends, their reputation growing over decades as their raw sound was rediscovered by new generations of rock fans3.
- The song remains a staple of garage rock and is celebrated for its primal energy and enduring appeal132.
Key Facts Table
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Original Writer | Richard Berry |
| The Sonics Version | Here Are The Sonics (1965) |
| Genre | Garage rock, proto-punk |
| Notable Features | Screaming vocals, driving drums, saxophone riff, raw energy |
| Legacy | Garage rock classic, widely covered, influential on punk/rock |
Summary
The Sonics’ "Have Love Will Travel" is a definitive garage rock anthem—transforming Richard Berry’s R&B original into a wild, aggressive, and influential classic. Its pounding rhythm, gritty sound, and restless lyrics have made it a touchstone for generations of rock musicians and fans132.
