The Dixie Highway is a network of roads that runs between Florida and Michigan. According to the liner notes of Journey's Time3 compilation, the song was written on the band bus on the way to Detroit via the famous highway. Lead singer Steve Perry liked the sound of the words and guitarist Neal Schon liked the shuffle groove. Gregg Rolie used a Prophet keyboard with a descending twist and the song slowly emerged from jams on the road. The song was released as a single from Journey's live album Captured.