Lonnie Donegan

Lyrics

1 ContributorWabash Cannonball LyricsFrom the great Atlantic Ocean to the wide Pacific shore
From the green and flowing mountains to the south belt by the shore
She's mighty tall and handsome, and known quite well by all
She's the combination known as the Wabash Cannon Ball

Listen to the jingle, the rumble and the roar
As she glides along the woodlands, o'er the hills and by the shore
Hear the mighty rush of the engine, hear that lonesome hobo squall
You're travelling through the jungles on the Wabash Cannon Ball

She came down from Birmingham, one cold December day
As she rolled into the station, you could hear all the people say
There's a girl from Tennessee, she's long and she's tall
She came down from Birmingham 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 that lonesome hobo squall
You're travelling through the jungles on the Wabash Cannon Ball

Our Eastern states are dandy, so the people always say
From New York to St. Louis and Chicago by the way
From the hills of Minnesota where the rippling waters fall
No changes can be taken on that Wabash Cannon Ball

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 that lonesome hobo squall
You're travelling through the jungles on the Wabash Cannon Ball
You might also likeHere's to Daddy Claxton, may his name forever stand
And always be remembered 'round the courts of Alabam'
His earthly race is over and the curtains 'round him fall
We'll carry him home to victory on the Wabash Cannon Ball

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 that lonesome hobo squall
You're travelling through the jungles on the Wabash Cannon BallEmbed

Get ready to ride the rails with a country classic that's been covered by everyone from Johnny Cash to Willie Nelson. We're talking about "Wabash Cannonball," the iconic tune that's been around since the early 20th century.

About Wabash Cannonball

While the origins of "Wabash Cannonball" are a bit murky, the song is widely believed to have been first recorded in 1929 by The Carter Family, one of the most famous and influential groups in country music history. Over the years, the tune has been covered by countless artists across genres and continents, but it's Lonnie Donegan's 1956 version that really put the song on the map.

Lonnie Donegan was a British musician who's often credited with popularizing skiffle music, a genre that was a precursor to rock and roll. When Donegan and his band released their version of "Wabash Cannonball," it quickly rose to the top of the charts in the UK and earned them a spot on The Ed Sullivan Show in the US.

But what makes "Wabash Cannonball" such an enduring classic? For one, the song's catchy melody and simple lyrics make it easy to sing along to. But beyond that, the tune has a certain timelessness to it - its tale of a train that's traveled the country for generations might as well be a metaphor for the enduring power of music itself.

Whether you're a die-hard country fan or just someone who appreciates a good tune, "Wabash Cannonball" is definitely worth a listen. So why not hop on board and see where the tracks take you?

• Release Date: None
• Artist: Lonnie Donegan