schlange - Posted - 05/02/2014:  11:53:36

This week we're featuring another railroad tune, although this time it's all about a fictional train. "Wabash Cannonball" is thought to have originated in the late 1800's.

Wikipedia has some good details:

The Carter Family made one of the first recordings of the song in 1929, though it was not released until 1932. Another popular version was recorded by Roy Acuff in 1936.[1] The Acuff version is one of the fewer than forty all-time singles to have sold 10 million (or more) physical copies worldwide.

It is a signature song of the Indiana State University Marching Sycamores and the Purdue All-American Marching Band as the ISU and Purdue campuses are near the Wabash River. It is also associated with the Stephen F. Austin State University Lumberjack Marching Band, the Kansas State University Marching Band, and the University of Texas Longhorn Band. It was also used as the theme song by the USS Wabash (AOR-5).

The song "The Wabash Cannonball" is part of the The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll list.[2] It is the oldest song on the list.

As you can see from the Grooveshark playlist to the right, this song has been performed by a lot of folks! It's hugely popular in the folk and country scenes, and also popular in bluegrass. Most often heard in A and G, although Big Mon did it in C.

Lyrics

(as performed by The Carter Family in their 1929 recording)

From the great Atlantic ocean to the wide Pacific shore

She climbs flowery mountain, o'r hills and by the shore

She's mighty tall and handsome, and she's known quite well by all

She's a regular combination of the Wabash Cannonball.

Verse:

Oh, the Eastern states are dandy, so the Western people say

Chicago, Rock Island, St. Louis by the way

To the lakes of Minnesota where the rippling waters fall

No changes to be taken on the Wabash Cannonball.

Chorus:

Chorus:

Oh, listen to the jingle, the rumble and the roar

As she glides along the woodland, o'r hills and by the shore

She climbs the flowery mountain, hear the merry hobos squall

She glides along the woodland, the Wabash Cannonball.

Oh, here's to daddy Cleaton, let his name forever be

And long be remembered in the courts of Tennessee

For he is a good old rounder 'til the curtain 'round him fall

He'll be carried back to victory on the Wabash Cannonball.

Verse:

I have rode the I.C. Limited, also the Royal Blue

Across the Eastern countries on Elkhorn Number Two

I have rode those highball trains from coast to coast that's all

But I have found no equal to the Wabash Cannonball.

Learn the Tune

• Hear It: If you aren't familiar with the tune, be sure to listen to the versions I've included in the playlist to the right, and in the videos below.


• Casey Henry has posted a Murphy Method lessons for this tune--only $6 thru the end of the week.​ Get it here >


• John Boulding has posted a lesson for playing backup for this tune. Get it here >


• Backing Tracks: Band in a Box tracks are included below at various speeds for your practicing pleasure


• Tabs: Ross Nickerson's tab is simple and good​, and Jack Baker's tab is great as always.

Share!

I (and others) would love to hear (and see!) you play your version of this tune--post it in a reply below!

VIDEO: Claire Lynch sings Wabash Cannonball on Santa Cruz Live (click to view)	VIDEO: Roy Acuff & His Smokey Mountain Boys (click to view)	VIDEO: Roy Acuff, Box Car Willie and Charlie Daniels Wabash Cannonball (click to view)	VIDEO: Doc Watson & Friends - Wabash Cannon Ball - 1994 Winterhawk (click to view)
VIDEO: "Wabash Cannonball" - Grand Ole Opry House 40th Anniversary Opening - All Sing (click to view)	VIDEO: Wabash Cannonball - Backup Banjo Lesson Preview (click to view)	VIDEO: Wabash Cannonball - Excerpt from the Custom Banjo Lesson from The Murphy Method (click to view)	Wabash Cannonball Backing Track (G) 60BPM
Wabash Cannonball Backing Track (G) 80BPM	Wabash Cannonball Backing Track (G) 100BPM	Wabash Cannonball Backing Track (G) 120BPM	Wabash Cannonball Chords

seanray - Posted - 05/02/2014:  12:10:07

Here's my version.

Jack Baker - Posted - 05/02/2014:  16:08:24

Hi Eric,

Feel free to add this tab to the TOTW arranged by me several years ago....Jack  p.s. I sent it to you via email also so that I can't accidently remove it...

Wabash Cannonball

Edited by - Jack Baker on 05/02/2014 16:11:29

Jack Baker - Posted - 05/03/2014:  06:54:13

Wabash Cannonball can now be found in the tab archives with fingerings added...Jack

Wabash Cannonball     arranged by Jack Baker

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Originally posted by Jack Baker

Edited by - Jack Baker on 05/03/2014 07:07:09

Banjophobic - Posted - 05/03/2014:  09:42:43

The backup video is loading now..should be ready to post by this evening Eric. 

schlange - Posted - 05/04/2014:  22:01:26

quote:

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Originally posted by Banjophobic

The backup video is loading now..should be ready to post by this evening Eric. 

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Linked posted above--thanks John!

petegottfried - Posted - 05/05/2014:  15:27:31

Hi Eric-

I paid for this lesson this morning and still do not see it on my page of lessons. What info do you need from me?

Thanks,
Pete

schlange - Posted - 05/06/2014:  08:46:16

quote:

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Originally posted by petegottfried

Hi Eric-



I paid for this lesson this morning and still do not see it on my page of lessons. What info do you need from me?



Thanks,

Pete

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Hi Pete,

I don't see any recent orders in the system under your account. Did you get a receipt email for it? If so, send it my way and I'll check it out! (eric@banjohangout.org)

When you make a purchase your video should show up on this page to watch: banjohangout.org/lessons/video/

schlange - Posted - 05/06/2014:  08:52:02

Just posted Jack's tab to the original post....

David M - Posted - 05/07/2014:  03:35:44

I think you'll find the second to last example MP3 is the great Boxcar Willie, not Hank Williams as listed Eric, the best version ever done IMO... ;-)