Wabash Cannonball
The Wabash Cannonball is an American folk song about a mythical railroad train in the United States. He probably built in the late 19th century. The song was first recorded in 1929 by the Carter Family and 1936 -sung by the singer Roy Acuff. Many hillbilly artists performed the song during the Great Depression in the 30s and 40s. It is also one of the main chants of Kansas State University.
When the song was known, called the Wabash Railroad her express between Detroit and St. Louis Wabash Cannonball.
Text
Text version of the song as it was played by Roy Acuff in 1936.
Stanza:
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Chorus:
Variants
There are many versions of the song.
- So instead of " victory" in the last verse sung " glory".
- Instead of " Danny Claxton " there are also models with " Daddy Claxton " or " Boston Blackie "
- In the first verse, the second line can also be " from sunny California to icebound Labrador " and the last " she's the ' boes accommodation called the Wabash Cannonball". This was probably the original version, but today it's hardly common.
- It is also used to some extent this stanza:
I have rode the I.C. Limited, that the Royal Blue Across the eastern countries on Elkhorn number two I have rode synthesis highball trains from coast to coast that's all But i have found no equal to the Wabash Cannonball
History
There are various theories about the origin of the song. A plausible theory is represented by the folk singer Utah Philips. He is of the opinion that hobos the mythical train called the " Wabash Cannonball" invented - a train that runs through the whole country; to keep this idea awake, the song was written.
Another theory is based on a fairy tale to Cal. S. Bunyan, a brother of the legendary American lumberjack Paul Bunyan. He built a railroad named Ireland, Jerusalem, Australian & Southern Michigan Line. After two months of operation of the 700 cars long train was so fast that he arrived an hour earlier than he had left. Finally, the train was so fast that he flew into space and now flies for all time through the cosmos. When the hobos heard this story, they called the Wabash Cannonball train, and thought that his signal was heard on every station in America.
Kansas State University
The tradition of the use of "The Wabash Cannonball" as a chant at Kansas State University began in 1968 On 13 December 1968, the music building of the university was burnt down. ; the fire destroyed all instruments and sheet music. Only one sheet of "The Wabash Cannonball" survived because the music director Phil Hewett had taken it home. On the following Monday evening a basketball game against the University of Syracuse was in order. With borrowed instruments, the band played as a single song " Wabash Cannonball". Since it is played by the bands of the University over again.
Jukebox Cannonball
1951 Jesse Rogers adapted " Wabash Cannonball" for its version as " Jukebox Cannonball " by adding new similar verses. In the years 1951-1955 the song of many different artists from the region of New York - Pennsylvania was taken. In addition to Rogers were the Ray Whitley, Rex Zario, and Bill Haley and The Saddlemen.