by Nick Drake. Although it's more spiritual than spirited, it'd make a magnificent closing track to the evening.

... and Nick Drake - she's in for a fantastic evening! ;)

We walked him to the station in the rain,
we kissed him as we put him on the train,
and we sang him a song of times long gone,
though we knew that we'd be seeing him again

I'm sad to say I must be on my way
So buy me beer and whiskey 'cause I'm going far away
I'd like to think of me returning when I can
To the greatest little boozer and to Sally MacLennane

and a different 'Northern Skies' - I Am Kloot

by The Smiths.
Great to go mental to. The soundtrack to one thousand goodbyes.

She's Gone - not exactly fitting but the first song that came into my head when I read your post.

to suggest Leavin' On A Jet Plane?

I Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer

Thanks, some good suggestions already and a few more have
come to me:

Since You Been Gone-Rainbow
Across The Universe-The Beatles
You’re Gone-Marillion
With Or Without You-U2
World Where You Live-Crowded House
Don’t You (Forget About Me)–Simple Minds

ROCKING ALL OVER THE WORLD!

Don't Look Back-Teenage Fanclub
Don't Look Back In Anger-Oasis
Where Do You Think You're Going?-Dire Straits
Don't Stop-Fleetwood Mac

Go Now - The Moody Blues
The Long and Winding Road - Them Beatles, again
Around the World - Daft Punk
All Over the World - ELO
I've Been Everywhere - Rolf Harris

See You - Depeche Mode
Trans Europe Express - Kraftwerk
London Bye Ta Ta - David Bowie
Go - Moby
My Old School - Steely Dan
This World Over - XTC
The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul - Ruben Blades (not the XTC version)
I Travel - Simple Minds (the 12" version is a big favourite)
Travelin' Light - JJ Cale
Airport - the Motors
Magic - Pilot

All Around The World - Lisa Stansfield

has to be included

When ye Go Away by the Waterboys from Fisherman's Blues album.

Leaving England

.... Daniel.

At my leaving party before going to Latin America for a year, the DJ finished up with the theme from The Littlest Hobo.

but still great songs

Lemon Jelly Ramblin' Man
Laura Marling Rambling Man
Led Zeppelin Babe I'm gonna leave you ("leave you in the summertime")
Free Travellin'Man

and combining both themes

Neil Young Spirit Road

from his eponymous album. Gorgeous.

We've gotta get out of this place - the Animals
You're gonna make me lonely when you go - Bob Dylan
Until you come back to me - Aretha
Next year - Foo Fighters
Should I stay or should I go - the Clash
Song for the journey - Tish Hinojosa
Rocket man - Elton
Traveller in my songs ( only know it from 70's Swedes Landslaget, I suspect that it wasn't written by them )

...you probably think this song is about you

From "The Sound of Music"? Terrific song.

Moon River - Movie version.
If that doesn't hit the spot, I will compensate you to the tune of trillions.

Jackson Browne - Take It Easy & Running On Empty

Roy Harper - Highway Blues

Free - Goodbye, Travellin' In Style & Highway Song

Steve Earle - Goodbye, Continental Trailways Blues & Wherever I Go

Guy Clark - LA Freeway & Desperados Waiting For A Train

Leonard Cohen - Hey, That's No Way To Say Goodbye

Bob Dylan - It you got to go (or Fairport Convention Si Tu Dois Partir)

Patsy Cline - Walking After Midnight

Cowboy Junkies - 200 More Miles & Escape Is So Simple

one of the best songs I've ever heard.

http://open.spotify.com/track/6dwTH4bMyzD9q6T6oRB23A

Voice of The Beehive - I Walk The Earth

The B52s - Roam

The Proclaimers

and I feel fine.
Another Waterboys song Strange Boat is nice and poignant.
Maybe a bit obvious but Born to be Wild - Steppenwolf
and Johnny Cash - I've been everywhere.

Big Exit - PJ Harvey
I'm Moving On - BB King
Empire State Express - Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir
It Happened In Monterey - Frank Sinatra
My Backwards Walk - Frightened Rabbit
You're Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone - John Lee Hooker
The Pilot - Lauren O'Connell
On Her Majesty's Secret Service - John Barry
Drive Like I Never Been Hurt - Ry Cooder
The Lights of Baton Rouge Pass By - The KLF

i may make a playlist

by Joni Mitchell---and the Refuge of the Roads

possibly for 3am when it's winding down a bit ...

Leave the Capitol - the Fall (ah)
Come Sail Away - Eric Cartman (Styx cover by the South Park celeb but much superior)

Its a Wild World - Cat Stevens

Go now - Moody Blues
Keep on Running - Spencer Davis
Gotta Go - Alan Price
Si Tu Dois Partir - Fairport Convention
If you leave me now - Chicago
Goodbye, my love, goodbye - Mary Hopkin
We gotta get out of this place - Animals
Hello, Goodbye - HJH

..."Baby Please Don't Go" of course

but how about seven days to a holiday and summer holiday by Cliff and the shadows ?

I have used this as a valedictory tune to several friends - "tears to a glass eye"

PIL - Rise

nobody has suggested 'Spirit In The Sky', considering the OP's friend of a friend's nickname.

MIDNIGHT BUS
(John D. Loudermilk)

Me and my baby, we got on the midnight bus
Pulled out of Durham and left in a cloud of dust
Headed for the border of North and South Caroline
This time tomorrow she'll be mine

After we had ridden for a while on the midnight bus
We fell out and had an awful fuss
Said goodbye, I pulled the buzzer chord
I got off and the driver slammed the door

Standin' in the highway, holdin' my suitcase tight
Watching that midnight bus pull out of sight
She's gone, my baby's gone and I'm alone

Left and lost my baby on the midnight bus
Left and lost my baby on the midnight bus
She's gone, my baby's gone and I'm alone

No "King of the Road" ? everyone knows it and it's about travelling.

Rio - Mike Nesmith

Davy's on the Road Again - Manfred Mann Earth Band
Gringo in Mexico - Maria Muldaur
Walk Like an Egyptian - Bangles
From New York to LA - Patsy Gallant

and as sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti...

'Road to Nowhere' talking Heads....great tune....on loop... all night... end of

There She Goes - The La's

Sad To Know (You're Leaving) - Gregory Isaacs

The Gregory Isaacs tune is becoming a staple of leaving parties as the last tune when I'm DJing.

Judee Sill - There's A Rugged Road (Shawn Colvin does an excellent version too).