Wabash Cannonball

Buck Billo and Maxi sing "Wabash Cannonball".
"The Wabash Cannonball" is an American folk song about a fictional train, thought to have originated sometime in the late nineteenth century. Its first documented appearance was on sheet music published in 1882, titled "The Great Rock Island Route" and credited to J. A. Roff. All subsequent versions contain a variation of the chorus:

The Carter Family made one of the first recordings of the song in 1929, though it was not released until 1932. Another popular version was recorded by Country Music Hall of Famer Roy Acuff in 1936.

It is one of the primary fight songs of Kansas State University, and a signature song of the University of Texas at Austin's band. It was also used as the theme song by the USS Wabash (AOR5).

The song "The Wabash Cannonball" is part of the The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll list.[1]
In addition to The Carter Family's 1929 recording and Roy Acuff's 1936 recording, many hillbilly artists recorded "The Wabash Cannonball" during the Great Depression era of the 1930s and 1940s. The song increased in popularity during this time. There are many theories of the origin of "The Wabash Cannonball". Utah Phillips states that hobos somewhere imagined a mythical train called the "Wabash Cannonball" and created the lyrics and music to go with the myth.

Another theory states that the song is based on a tall tale in which Cal S. Bunyan, Paul Bunyan's brother, constructed a railroad known as the Ireland, Jerusalem, Australian & Southern Michigan Line. After two months of service, the 700-car train was traveling so fast that it arrived at its destination an hour before its departure. Finally, the train took off so fast that it rushed in to outer space, and for all is known, it is still traveling through space. When the hobos learned of this train, they called her "The Wabash Cannonball" and said that every station in America had heard her whistle.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Buck
• Billo
• Maxi
• classic
• Country

[eat0dirt21]

i played this song for my band and its the beast for trombone its all about the trombone including the solo

[buckandbilloshow]

Thanks so much.

[WEIRDALROXMYSOX]

Great job on a great song! At least you didn't put everyone in the middle of the train tracks for this one. LOL

[buckandbilloshow]

LOL, Yeah it is all fun and games till someone gets run over!

[oldcountrytunes]

Terrific, guys. I gotta say I'm putting this one in my favorites in honor of the newlyweds.

[buckandbilloshow]

LOL, this is a "prehitch" video but we will be making some "posthitch" ones tonight! LOL Thanks Marcus.

[buster541]

This is another great old song. Very Very Good Job To All!

*****

Curt

[classican]

Marvelous job!!!!!

[WEIRDALROXMYSOX]

Yeah instead of road-kill we'd have track-kill. LOL

[CountryWesternGal]

Great Job On That Find Tune My Friends :)) 5/5

Patricia.

[buckandbilloshow]

Thanks so much Ricky.