I've Been Everywhere

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Megalong Valley
Megalong Valley

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 1970); 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.

Original singer Lucky Starr released an EP called "Lucky's Been Everywhere," which contained 4 different versions: Great Britain, U.S.A., New Zealand, and Australia (Festival Records FX-10.485 (Australia)).

Contents

[edit] Australian version

Some of the locations in the Australian version
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, Tuggeranong, Wanganella, Morella, Augathella, Brindabella
Verse 3
Wollongong, Geelong, Kurrajong, Mullumbimby, Mittagong, Molong, Grong Grong, Goondiwindi, Yarra Yarra, Boroondara, 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, Stockinbingal, Collaroy, Narrabeen, Bendigo, Dorrigo, Bangalow, Indooroopilly, Kirribilli, Yeerongpilly, Wollondilly

For some of the above, there is more than one place in Australia with the same name (e.g. Coolangatta and Fingal). The links given above are the most famous locations with those names.

[edit] North American version

Geoff Mack's music publisher offered the song to Canadian-born country musician Hank Snow in 1962. Snow thought the song had potential for the Canadian and American markets, but only if the place names were adapted to North America. At his publisher's urging, Geoff Mack consequently re-wrote the song using a North American atlas supplied to him by the publisher. The North American version starts: I was totin' my pack along the dusty Winnemucca road. Below are the places mentioned in this version of the song, most of which are in North America, but a few of which are in South America:

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 (not specified whether it's Charleston, WV or Charleston, SC), Dayton, Louisiana, Washington (not specified whether it's Washington D.C. or Washington state), Houston, Kingston, Texarkana, Monterey, Faraday, 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, Richfield, Springfield, Bakersfield, Shreveport, Hackensack, Cadillac, Fond Du Lac, Davenport, Idaho, Jellico, Argentina, Diamantina, Pasadena and Catalina.
Fourth verse
Pittsburgh, Parkersburg, Gravelbourg, Colorado, Ellensburg, Rexburg, Vicksburg, El Dorado, Larimore, Atmore, Haverstraw, Chatanika, 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.
Beers adapted by Jon Chalmers
"Scaeffer Shiner Horlacher Heffenreffer, Coopers Kruegers Kingfisher Knickerbocker, Fosters Fullers Lucky Lager Silver Thunder, Miller Paulener Boulder Old Peculiar, Rheingold Michelob Strohs Grolsch Guinness Gold, Yuengling Carling Youngs and Little Kings...
Belgium
Wies Willems, singer-songwriter from Vorselaar-Gent, wrote a cover in Dutch, in which he uses different places in Belgium. The song is being performed by "The Lost Highwayknights."
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.
Germany (adapted by Jackie Leven)
"I was walking down the Ku'damm in the City of Berlin." Complete with an entire verse of Baden-Baden. Published on the 2007 album "Oh What A Blow That Phantom Dealt Me!"
Pennsylvania (adapted by Earl Pickens)
"I was totin' my pack along the old Conshohocken Road." [1]
Pubic Hair (adapted by MacLean & MacLean)
In a parody titled "I've Seen Pubic Hair", the types of pubic hair that can be found in food is listed, among other places.
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.
Texas (adapted By Brian Burns)
I was totin’ my pack along the dusty Amarillo road.
Houston (adapted By Hayes Carll)
I been to Houston, Houston, Houston, Houston....

[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 from 2005-present.

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 is to be used in an advertising campaign for Faroese telecome company EITT.
New Brunswick, Canada
2007 TV Ad for Enbridge Natural Gas with Provincial town & street names added. Seen often on CBC during hockey games.
Saskatchewan
SaskTel, the government-owned telecom in Saskatchewan, has a long-running television commercial that adapts the song to "I Go Everywhere," listing off small towns in the province where SaskTel Mobility coverage is available. The towns named are: Warman, Watson, Maidstone, Radisson, Fox Valley, Unity, Southey, Davidson, Meath Park, Lucky Lake, Candle Lake, Neilburg, Outlook, Shellbrook, Aberdeen, Strasbourg, Cut Knife, Springside, Indian Head, Lemburg, Elrose, Melville, and Biggar.

[edit] Trivia

 Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines.
The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.
  • 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 Meekatharra, 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 end credits of Michael Moore's The Big One (1996).
  • 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.[citation needed]

[edit] References

  1. ^ YouTube - I've Been Everywhere (In Pennsylvania)

[edit] External links

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