I've Been Everywhere
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The song "I've Been Everywhere" was written by Geoff Mack in 1959 and made popular by the singer Lucky Starr in 1962.
It listed Australian towns. It was later adapted for North American (primarily United States) place names and by John Hore (later known as John Grenell) with New Zealand place names (1966).
The song was a number 1 hit in Country Music in November 1962 in the United States for the recording artist Hank Snow. The song was also recorded by : Lynn Anderson (USA 1968); Asleep At The Wheel (USA 1973); Johnny Cash (USA 1996); the Countdown Singers; Chip Dockery; Ted Egan; the "Farrelly Brothers" from the television series The Aunty Jack Show (Australia 1974 (parody)); John Grenell (NZ 1966); Mike Ford (Canada, 2005); Rolf Harris (UK 1963); Clifton Jansky; Willie Nelson; and The Statler Brothers.
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[edit] Australian version
The Australian version starts: Well, I was humpin' my bluey on the dusty Oodnadatta road
The place names listed are:
Verse 1: Tullamore, Seymour, Lismore, Mooloolaba, Nambour, Maroochydore, Kilmore, Murwillumbah, Birdsville, Emmaville, Wallaville, Cunnamulla, Condamine, Strathpine, Proserpine, Ulladulla, Darwin, Gin Gin, Deniliquin, Muckadilla, Wallumbilla, Boggabilla, Kumbarilla
Verse 2: Moree, Taree, Jerilderie, Bambaroo, Toowoomba, Gunnedah, Caringbah, Woolloomooloo, Dalveen, Tamborine, Engadine, Jindabyne, Lithgow, Casino, Brigalow, Narromine, Megalong, Wyong, Tuggerawong, Wanganella, Morella, Augathella, Brindabella
Verse 3: Wollongong, Geelong, Kurrajong, Mullumbimby, Mittagong, Molong, Grong Grong, Goondiwindi, Yarra Yarra, Bouindarra, Wallangarra, Turramurra, Boggabri, Gundagai, Narrabri, Tibooburra, Gulgong, Adelong, Billabong, Cabramatta, Parramatta, Wangaratta, Coolangatta
Verse 4: Ettalong, Dandenong, Woodenbong, Ballarat, Canberra, Milperra, Unanderra, Captains Flat, Cloncurry, River Murray, Kurri Kurri, Girraween, Terrigal, Fingal, Stockinbingal, Collaroy, Narrabeen, Bendigo, Dorrigo, Bangalow, Indooroopilly, Kirribilli, Yeerongpilly, Wollondilly
For some of the above there's more than one place in Australia with the same name, eg. two Coolangattas, three Fingals. No doubt the listener can hear the one they know, the links given are the most likely candidates.
In 2006, the song has been used to head the Telstra advertisement campaign promoting their new wireless broadband service. The lyrics are altered in the fade out of the ad to include some suburbs/towns not listed in the official version of the lyrics above.
[edit] North American version
The North American version starts: I was totin' my pack along the dusty Winnemucca road
Places mentioned in the first verse: Reno, Chicago, Fargo, Minnesota, Buffalo, Toronto, Winslow, Sarasota, Wichita, Tulsa, Ottawa, Oklahoma, Tampa, Panama, Mattawa, La Paloma, Bangor, Baltimore, Salvador, Amarillo, Tocopilla, Barranquilla, and Padilla.
Second verse: Boston, Charleston, Dayton, Louisiana, Washington, Houston, Kingston, Texarkana, Monterey, Ferriday, Santa Fe, Tallapoosa, Glen Rock, Black Rock, Little Rock, Oskaloosa, Tennessee, Hennessey, Chicopee, Spirit Lake, Grand Lake, Devils Lake and Crater Lake.
Third verse: Louisville, Nashville, Knoxville, Ombabika, Schefferville, Jacksonville, Waterville, Costa-Rica, Pittsfield, Springfield, Bakersfield, Shreveport, Hackensack, Cadillac, Fond Du Lac, Davenport, Idaho, Jellico, Argentine, Diamantina, Pasadena and Catalina.
Fourth verse: Pittsburgh, Parkersburg, Gravelbourg, Colorado, Ellensburg, Rexburg, Vicksburg, Eldorado, Larimore, Atmore, Haverstraw, Chattanooga, Chaska, Nebraska, Alaska, Opelika, Baraboo, Waterloo, Kalamazoo, Kansas City, Sioux City, Cedar City and Dodge City.
[edit] New Zealand version
The New Zealand version starts: Well I was hitching a ride on a winding Hokitika road, when along came a lorry....
First verse: Kaparoa, Whangaroa, Akaroa, Motueka, Taramoa, Benmore, Pongaroa, Horoeka, Rimutaka, Te Karaka, Whangarei, Nuhaka, Waimahaka, Motuhura, Waikaka, Motonui, Hokonui, Papanui, Wainui, Matawai, Rongotai, Pikowai
Second verse: Woodville, Dargaville, Lumsden, Katikati, Naseby, Cambridge, Porirua, Mararoa, Hastings, Tikitiki, Tauranga, Auckland, Naenae, Waitaha, Hamilton, Poroporo, Taupo, Timaru, Oamaru, Tihoi, Awanui, Wanganui, Pauanui
Third verse: Featherston, Palmerston, Woolston, Te Awamutu, Riverton, Queenstown, Picton, Ohinemutu, Morere, Korere, Rotorua, Kaikoura, Matamata, Ruakura, Ikamatua, Papakura, Waitaki, Pukaki, Taranaki, Te Kauwhata, Ropata, Ikowai, Waitemata
Fourth verse: Ruatoki, Matahura, Taupiri, Maketu, Kyeburn, Sowburn, Wedderburn, Mossburn, Washdyke, Arawhata, Paparoa, Kaponga, Teraha, Thames, Kerikeri, Kokoma, Tapanui, Porinui, Tawanui, Otahuhu, Ruatapu, Mosgiel, Whareroa
Fifth verse: Kapiti, Ngawaka, Onepu, Reporoa, Tongariro, Tomoana, Renwick, Papamoa, Karitane, Oxford, Parihaka, Karetu, Coalgate, Whitecliffs, Urenui, Mamaku, Waimea, Waharoa, Dannevirke, Ngahere, Gordonton, Kingston, Oban
[edit] Other versions
Alaska (adapted by Michael Faubion): I got my snow machine stuck out on that windy Atmautluak trail.
Canada: Stompin' Tom Connors adds an extra spoken segment of locations in Ontario and a verse for locations in the Maritimes. He also substitutes Canadian cities, including Halifax and Montreal, at various points in the other verses. Mike Ford, formerly a member of Moxy Fruvous, did an all-Canadian version for his album, Canada Needs You, in 2005.
Texas (adapted By Brian Burns): I was totin’ my pack along the dusty Amarillo road.
Germany (adapted by Jackie Leven): on the 2007 album "Oh What A Blow That Phantom Dealt Me!".
Springfield's state (adapted by Tim Long): The Simpsons episode "Mobile Homer" includes a version of the song listing the various fictional towns in the series.
[edit] Use of the song in advertising
Telstra used the Australian version to advertise its new Next-G 3.5G mobile network in 2006. Choice Hotels used the Johnny Cash version in TV ads aired during 2005 and 2006. Additionally, 30-second snippets of the song have been created for the following locations:
Chicago: The Chicago Transit Authority used various neighborhoods/stops along the transit lines in a 2005 ad.
Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex: Dallas-based TexasLending.com uses suburbs in the Metroplex area.
Pittsburgh: KDKA News Radio uses suburbs in the Pittsburgh region, where KDKA covers.
Faroe Islands: EITT The melody with new lyrics was used in an advertising campaign for Faroese telecome company EITT.
[edit] Trivia
- Australian musician Kevin Bloody Wilson did a mini-parody of the song within his song "Nigel Krap", about an Aborigine named Nigel. Placenames used include heavy repetition of the Western Australian town of Meekathara, hospital and jail.
- The Johnny Cash version was used during the opening credits of the 2004 movie Flight of the Phoenix, as well as the closing credits of the 2006 Pixar movie Cars.
- Due to the royalties Geoff Mack has received from the use of this song in commercials and recordings, neither he nor his wife have been eligible for the old age pension.
[edit] External links
- I've Been Everywhere. Australian, USA and New Zealand lyrics at International Lyrics Playground. Retrieved on 2006-01-24.
- I've Been Everywhere Truck Driving Lyrics. Virtual Truck Route. Summit Solutions Ltd (2006). Retrieved on 2006-01-24.
- I've Been Everywhere Man (Bigpond). Video of Australian TV advertisement featuring song (2006). Retrieved on 2006-07-12.
- I've Been Everywhere Man (Bigpond). Telstra Bigpond version (towns are slightly different, perhaps reflecting the Bigpond service availability) (2006). Retrieved on 2007-02-13.
- I've Been Everywhere versions. song history at Australian music site 'Where Did They Get That Song?'.
