I've Been Everywhere

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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); Rolf Harris (UK 1963); Clifton Jansky; Willie Nelson; and The Statler Brothers.

Contents

[edit] Australian version

Some of the locations in the Australian version
Enlarge
Some of the locations in the 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, Oban, Kingston

[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.

Texas (adapted By Brian Burns): I was totin’ my pack along the dusty Amarillo road. In addition, Dallas-based TexasLending.com uses a variant on one of its commercials, the cities mentioned are various Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex suburbs.

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] Trivia

  • The Johnny Cash version was used during 2005 and 2006 for TV ads for Choice Hotels.
  • In 2005 in Chicago, an ad for the Chicago Transit Authority used a made-up version of the song that lists various neighborhoods/stops along the transit lines.
  • The Johnny Cash version was used during the closing credits of the 2006 Pixar movie Cars.
  • In 2006, Telstra used the Australian version to advertise its new Next-G 3.5G mobile network.
  • 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

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