Wabash Cannonball
Osborne Brothers · Osborne Brothers 2 (1968-1974) [Bear Family] [1995]
From the great Atlantic ocean to the wide Pacific shore
From the queen of flowing mountains to the south belles by the shore
She's mighty tall and handsome and she's known quite well by all
She's the combination of the Wabash Cannonball.
She came down from Birmingham one cold December day
As she stood in the roundhouse you could hear all the people say
There's a gal from Tennesee she's long she's tall
She came down from Birmingham on the Wabash Cannonball.
Oh, listen to the jingle, the rumble and the roar
As she glides along the woodlands through the hills and by the shore
Hear the mighty rush of the engine hear that lonesome hoboes call
You're traveling through the jungle on the Wabash Cannonball.
--- Instrumental ---
Here's to Daddy Claxton may his name forever stand
And always be remembered in the courts throughout the land
When his earthly race is over and the curtains round him fall
You'll carry him home to Dixie on the Wabash Cannonball.
Our eastern states are dandy some people always say
From New York to St Louis and Chicago by the way
From the hills of Minnesota where the wrippling waters fall
No changes will be taken on the Wabash Cannonball.
Oh listen to the jingle, the rumble and the roar
As she glides along the woodlands through the hills and by the shore
Hear the mighty rush of the engine hear that lonesome hoboes call
You're traveling through the jungle on the Wabash Cannonball...
Wabash Cannonball
The Osborne Brothers' 1963 recording of 'Wabash Cannonball' stands as a definitive example of traditional Appalachian folk music adapted for country and western audiences. Released on their MGM label, the track features the signature harmonies of Bobby and Sonny Osborne, blending acoustic guitar with a driving rhythm that propelled the song to massive commercial success. Originally a folk song about a steamboat race, the Osborne Brothers' arrangement transformed it into a staple of the genre, showcasing their ability to preserve regional musical heritage while appealing to a broader national market. Their performance on this recording helped cement their reputation as one of the most influential family acts in early rock and country history, influencing countless subsequent artists who sought to capture the authentic sound of the American South.