The Wabash Cannonball:Big John Khat And The Highland
Blues Band.
Recorded live in Metz, France in 1962.
(Always got a lot of requests for this one, no matter where
 we played. I learned this version as a wee lad, way back
 when. However, there are several versions of the lyrics..
 the original is believed to have been written in 1882.)     

#1.
G                                                 C
From the great Atlantic ocean to the wide Pacific shore..
    D                                                   G
she climbs the flowery mountains, over hills and by the shore.
G                                                             C
She's mighty tall and handsome, and she's known quite well by all.
          D                                     G
She's the hobo's accomodation..the Wabash Cannonball.

#2.
G                                                       C
Oh, the Eastern states are dandy, so the Western people say..
   D                                    G
Chicago, Rock Island, St. Louis..by the way.
G                                                   C
To the lakes of Minnesota where the rippling waters fall..
   D                                        G
no changes can be taken on the Wabash Cannonball.

CHORUS:
G                                            C
Oh, listen to the jingle, the rumble and the roar..
       D                                                G
as she glides along the woodland, over hills and by the shore.
G                                                           C
Hear the mighty rush of her engine..hear the lonesome hobos call..
    D                                            G
she glides along the woodlands, the Wabash Cannonball.

#3.
G                                                          C
Well, she came on down from Birming-Town one cold December day..
       D                                                     G
as she pulled into the station you could hear all the people say.
G                                          C
She's from Tennessee..she's long and she's tall.
    D                                                G
She come on down from Birmingham on the Wabash Cannonball.

#4.
G                                                C
Oh, here's to Daddy Claxon, let his name forever be..
    D                                         G
and long be remembered in the courts of Tennessee.
G                                                        C
For he's a good old rounder 'til the curtains 'round him fall..
         D                                       G
he'll be carried on to Glory on the Wabash Cannonball.

#5.
G                                            C
I have rode the I.C. Limited, also the Royal Blue..
 D                                             G
across the Eastern counties on Elkhorn Number Two.
G                                                          C
I have rode those highball trains, from coast to coast and all..
    D                                         G
but I have found no equal to the Wabash Cannonball.

CHORUS:
G                                            C
Oh, listen to the jingle, the rumble and the roar..
       D                                                G
as she winds along the woodlands, over hills and by the shore.
G                                                C
She's a mighty pretty lady, she's long and she's tall..
      D                                                G
she's come on down from Birming-Town..the Wabash Cannonball.

OUTRO:
G                                            C
Oh, listen to the jingle, the rumble and the roar..
       D                                                G
as she winds along the woodlands, over hills and by the shore.
G                                                           C
Hear the mighty rush of her engine..hear the lonesome hobos call..
      D                                    G
she's ridin' on to Glory..the Wabash Cannonball..(Fade.)


An 1882 smash from Kraziekhat.