Few songs capture the spirit of the American railroad quite like “Wabash Cannonball.” With its rolling rhythm and vivid imagery, this classic has been chugging along through the heart of folk and country music for over a century. It’s more than just a song—it’s a journey, a tribute to the iron horses that connected the nation, and a symbol of freedom, adventure, and the boundless American landscape.
The song paints a picture of a mighty train barreling down the tracks, carrying legends, dreams, and weary travelers alike. It’s the kind of tune that makes you feel the wind on your face and hear the rumble of the rails beneath your feet. Whether you first heard it sung by Roy Acuff, Johnny Cash, or another great storyteller, its infectious melody and rhythmic drive make it impossible not to tap your foot along.
What makes “Wabash Cannonball” so enduring? Maybe it’s the way it captures that old wanderlust, that call of the open road—or in this case, the open tracks. Or maybe it’s the nostalgia, the way it transports you to a time when trains weren’t just transportation; they were lifelines, carrying people to new beginnings and distant dreams.
Whatever the reason, one thing is for sure: the “Wabash Cannonball” is more than just a song. It’s a piece of history that keeps rolling on, never losing steam
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Lyrics
From the great Atlantic ocean to the wide Pacific shore
The green old flowing mountains to the south down by the moor
She’s mighty tall and handsome she’s know quite well by all
Regular combination on the Wabash Cannonball
Listen to the jingle, the rumble and the roar
As she glides along the woodland o’er the hills and by the shore
Hear the mighty rush of the engine hear the lonesome hobo’s call
As you travel across the country on the Wabash Cannonball
Oh the eastern states are dandy so the people always say
From New York to St. Louis and Chicago by the way
To the hills of Minnesota where them rippling waters fall
No changes can be taken on the Wabash Cannonball
Here’s to Daddy Claxton may his name forever stand
In the hills of Tennessee and in the courts throughout the land
When his earthly race are over and them curtains round him fall
Would we take him home to Dixy on the Wabash Cannonball
I went down from Birmingham one cold December day
When she pulled into that station you could hear them people say
There’s a fellow from Tennessee, boys, he’s long and he’s tall
He came down from Alabamon the Wabash Cannonball
Oh listen to that jingle, the rumble and the roar
As she glides along the woodland o’er hills and by the shore
Hear the mighty rush of the engine hear the lonesome hobo’s call
You’re travelling through the jungle on the Wabash Cannonball