about
I made this for a contest, which I don't think I'll win. Oh well! It was my grandad's favourite song, and one of mine as well. I love the idea of this train that could take you anywhere you wanted to go.
Bit of history:
"As folksinger, raconteur and railfan U. Utah Phillips explained in 1973, "In the 1880's the Wabash Cannonball was a mythological train made up by some bum somewhere, the train that any old hobo would ride on the way to his reward, wherever that might be. There never was a train called the Wabash Cannonball that went 'from the great Atlantic Ocean to the wide Pacific shore.' And there never was a train where a bum could get breakfast on the club car."
lyrics
Did new lyrics for this, in the grand ol' Folk tradition. Mine are below, but a wee google search will reveal a few versions. Roy Acuff's are my favourite.
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Out from the great Atlantic to the broad Pacific shore
She climbs the flowery mountain o'er hills and by the shore
She's mighty tall and handsome and she's known quite well by all
She's a regular combination on the Wabash Cannonball
Oh the Eastern States are dandy, so the Western people say
New York to San Fransisco, Chicago by the way
From the lakes of Minnesota where the rippling waters fall
No chances to be taken on the Wabash Cannonball
[chorus]
I've taken...
Delta, Virgin, Southwest, Lufthandsa and Jet Blue,
Rickety ol' Ryan Air, Good ol' Eurail too
Lookin' out those Amtrack windows, seen the beauty of it all
but I have seen no equal to the Wabash Cannonball
[chorus]
Well, here's to my ol' Grandad, may his mem'ry stand
and may I always find a home (may I find myself at home) no matter where I am
when my earthly race is over, and the curtain' round me falls
I guess I'll play the club car on the Wabash Cannonball
credits
released April 30, 2010
license
