“Wagon Wheel” isn’t just a song—it’s a journey. It’s the kind of tune that makes you want to drop everything, hit the open road, and let the wind guide your way. Originally pieced together by Bob Dylan and later completed by Ketch Secor of Old Crow Medicine Show, it’s a collaboration across time that feels like a bridge between generations. This is the song you play when you’re chasing freedom, dreaming of the South, or just craving a melody that feels like a warm hug from home.
The magic of “Wagon Wheel” lies in its storytelling. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a rambling soul heading southward, chasing a dream or maybe just a feeling. Whether it’s the mention of Raleigh, the Appalachian hills, or that irresistible chorus that makes you want to sing along, the song has a way of pulling you into its world. And who could resist that foot-stomping rhythm? It’s a perfect blend of folk and bluegrass that feels both timeless and fresh.
But there’s something deeper here too. “Wagon Wheel” is a celebration of resilience and the human spirit. It reminds us that even when the road gets rough, there’s always a light—or a loved one—waiting at the end of the journey. That’s probably why so many artists, from Darius Rucker to backyard cover bands, have embraced this song. It’s universal, yet deeply personal—a rare combination in music.
Why We Love It
“Wagon Wheel” is more than just a melody; it’s a mood. It’s for long drives with the windows down, for bonfires with friends, and for moments when you need to feel connected to something bigger. It’s a reminder that even when life feels like a never-ending road, there’s beauty in the journey itself
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Lyrics
Headin’ down south to the land of the pines
I’m thumbin’ my way into North Caroline
Starin’ up the road and pray to God I see headlights
I made it down the coast in seventeen hours
Pickin’ me a bouquet of dogwood flowers
And I’m a-hopin’ for Raleigh, I can see my baby tonight
So, rock me mama like a wagon wheel
Rock me mama any way you feel
Hey… mama rock me
Rock me mama like the wind and the rain
Rock me mama like a southbound train
Hey… mama rock me
Runnin’ from the cold up in New England
I was born to be a fiddler in an old time string band
My baby plays a guitar, I pick a banjo now
Oh, north country winters keep a-gettin’ me down
Lost my money playin’ poker, so I had to leave town
But I ain’t a-turnin’ back to livin’ that old life no more
So, rock me mama like a wagon wheel
Rock me mama any way you feel
Hey… mama rock me
Yeah, rock me mama like the wind and the rain
Rock me mama like a southbound train
Hey… mama rock me
Walkin’ to the south out of Roanoke
I caught a trucker out of Philly, had a nice long toke
But he’s a-headin’ west from the Cumberland Gap
To Johnson City, Tennessee
And I gotta get a move on before the sun
I hear my baby callin’ my name and I know that she’s the only one
And if I died in Raleigh, at least I will die free
So, rock me mama like a wagon wheel
Rock me mama any way you feel
Hey… mama rock me
Oh, rock me mama like the wind and the rain
Rock me mama like a southbound train
Hey… mama rock me
So, rock me mama like a wagon wheel
Rock me mama any way you feel (oh, I wanna feel)
Hey… mama rock me
Rock me mama like the wind and the rain
Rock me mama like a southbound train
Hey… mama rock me