“Scroll down to the end of the article to listen to music.”
Introduction
Imagine the sound of a train chugging along the tracks, the whistle echoing through the open fields—a sound that evokes a sense of adventure, nostalgia, and the open road. “Wabash Cannonball” by Boxcar Willie isn’t just a song; it’s a ride through the heart of America, a journey that takes you back to a time when trains were the lifeblood of the land, connecting distant places and people.
Boxcar Willie, with his gravelly voice and authentic, down-to-earth style, brings this classic folk song to life in a way that feels like an old friend telling you a cherished story. The song itself is an ode to the legendary train, the Wabash Cannonball, which became a symbol of the American railways and the people who traveled them. It’s a celebration of the spirit of exploration and the romance of the rails.
What makes this rendition special is how Boxcar Willie captures the essence of the era, his voice resonating with the same rhythm and pulse as the train itself. The song’s melody is simple yet powerful, a tune that stays with you long after the music has stopped. Listening to “Wabash Cannonball” is like stepping into a time machine, taking a ride on a train that’s more than just metal and steam—it’s a piece of history, a part of the American soul.
Boxcar Willie’s version is not just about the train but about the freedom and possibility that the train represents. It’s a song that speaks to the wanderer in all of us, to those who dream of far-off places and the adventures that lie just beyond the horizon. Whether you’re a fan of trains or simply love a good story told through music, “Wabash Cannonball” is a song that will take you on a journey you won’t soon forget.
Video
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