"I've Been Everywhere" is a novelty song written by Australian country singer Geoff Mack in 1959, and popularised by Lucky Starr. A version of the song with different lyrics was popularised by Hank Snow in 1962.
The song's lyrics as originally written comprise mainly the place names (toponyms) of various Australian towns visited by the singer. It was later adapted by Australian singer Rolf Harris with British place names (1963), and by John Hore (later known as John Grenell) with New Zealand place names (1966). In 1962, the song was a number-one US country hit for Hank Snow, and number 68 on the Hot 100. The song was also recorded by Lynn Anderson (US 1970), Asleep at the Wheel (US 1973), Stompin’ Tom Connors (Canada 1971), Johnny Cash (US 1996), Ted Egan, the "Farrelly Brothers" from the television series The Aunty Jack Show (Australia 1974, a parody version, on the album Aunty Jack Sings Wollongong), John Grenell (NZ 1966), Mike Ford (Canada, 2005), The Sunny Cowgirls and the Statler Brothers. Harvey Reid also included the song in his Dreamer or Believer album. In 2021, supergroup L.A. Rats, which consists of Rob Zombie, Nikki Sixx, John 5, and Tommy Clufetos, covered the song for the Netflix film The Ice Road.
Original singer Lucky Starr released an EP called Lucky's Been Everywhere, which contained four different versions, relating to the United Kingdom, United States, New Zealand, and Australia.
Australian version
The Australian version starts: "Well, I was humpin' my bluey'humpin' my bluey' here means carrying my swag (bedroll) on the dusty Oodnadatta road, When along came a semi with a high and canvas-covered load, 'If you're goin' to Oodnadatta, mate, um, with me you can ride,' so I climbed in the cabin, and I settled down inside, He asked me if I'd seen a road with so much dust and sand, I said, 'Listen, mate, I've travelled every road in this here land.' Cause..." The towns 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, Tuggerawong, 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, Fingal, Stockinbingal, Collaroy, Narrabeen, Bendigo, Dorrigo, Bangalow, Indooroopilly, Kirribilli, Yeerongpilly, Wollondilly
For some of the above, more than one place in Australia has the same name (e.g., Coolangatta, Gin Gin, and Fingal). The links given above are the most famous locations with those names.
Western Australian version In 2005, Athol Wightman wrote the Western Australian version, keeping Geoff Mack's original tune but using places throughout the state of Western Australia. It was produced at the EMI Belinda Music Australia Pty Ltd studios.
Wightman included towns such as Gingin, which was also included in the Australian version, Kellerberrin, Meekatharra, Collie and Busselton.
Comedian Kevin Bloody Wilson did a parody of the song which limited his destinations to Meekatharra, hospital and jail.
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 the potential for the Canadian and American markets, but only if the toponyms were adapted to North America. At his publisher's urging, Geoff Mack consequently rewrote the song using a North American atlas supplied to him by the publisher. In 1970, from the album Cure For The Blues, Snow also recorded a second song to this called "I Ain't Been Anywhere". 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 the continent of North America, while six are in South America: Salvador, Barranquilla, Tocopilla, Argentina, Padilla, and Diamantina:
First verseReno, Chicago, Fargo, Minnesota, Buffalo, Toronto, Winslow, Sarasota, Wichita, Tulsa, Ottawa, Oklahoma, Tampa, Panama, Mattawa,This could be either Mattawa, Ontario or Mattawa, Washington. La Paloma,Could also be a reference to La Paloma, Rocha, Uruguay. Bangor, Baltimore, Salvador, Amarillo, Tocopilla, Barranquilla and Padilla. Second verse Boston, Charleston, Dayton, Louisiana, Washington, Houston, Kingston, Texarkana, Monterey, Ferriday, Santa Fe, Tallapoosa, Glen Rock, Black Rock, Little Rock, Oskaloosa, Tennessee, Hennessey, Chicopee, Spirit Lake, Grand Lake, Devil's Lake and Crater Lake. Third verseLouisville, Nashville, Knoxville, Ombabika, Schefferville, Jacksonville, Waterville, Costa Rica, Pittsfield, Springfield, Bakersfield, Shreveport, Hackensack, Cadillac, Fond du Lac, Davenport, Idaho, Jellico,Could also be a reference to Jellicoe, Ontario. Argentina, Diamantina, Pasadena and Catalina. Fourth verse Pittsburgh, Parkersburg, Gravelbourg, Colorado, Ellensburg, Rexburg, Vicksburg, Eldorado, Larimore, Atmore, Haverstraw, Chatanika, Chaska, Nebraska, Alaska, Opelika, Baraboo, Waterloo, Kalamazoo, Kansas City, Sioux City, Cedar City and Dodge City.
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