I'VE BEEN EVERYWHERE

The song '"I've Been Everywhere"' was written by Geoff Mack in 1959 and made popular by the singer Lucky Starr in 1962.
It listed Australian towns. It was later adapted for North American (primarily United States) place names and by John Hore (later known as John Grenell) with New Zealand place names (1966).
The song was a number 1 hit in Country Music in November 1962 in the United States for the recording artist Hank Snow. The song was also recorded by : Lynn Anderson (USA 1970); Asleep At The Wheel (USA 1973); Johnny Cash (USA 1996); the Countdown Singers; Chip Dockery; Ted Egan; the "Farrelly Brothers" from the television series ''The Aunty Jack Show'' (Australia 1974 (parody)); John Grenell (NZ 1966); Mike Ford (Canada, 2005); Rolf Harris (UK 1963); Clifton Jansky; Willie Nelson; and The Statler Brothers.
Original singer Lucky Starr released an EP called "Lucky's Been Everywhere", which contained 4 different versions: Great Britain, U.S.A., New Zealand, and Australia (Festival Records FX-10.485 (Australia)).

Contents

Australian version

North American version

New Zealand version

Other versions

Use of the song in advertising

Trivia

External links

Australian version

The Australian version starts: ''Well, I was humpin' my bluey on the dusty Oodnadatta road''
The place names 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, Tuggeranong, Wanganella, Morella, Augathella, Brindabella
'Verse 3: '
Wollongong, Geelong, Kurrajong, Mullumbimby, Mittagong, Molong, Grong Grong, Goondiwindi, Yarra Yarra, Bouindarra, 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 there's more than one place in Australia with the same name, eg. two Coolangattas, three Fingals. No doubt the listener can hear the one they know, the links given are the most likely candidates.
In 2006, the song has been used to head the Telstra advertisement campaign promoting their new wireless broadband service. The lyrics are altered in the fade out of the ad to include some suburbs/towns not listed in the official version of the lyrics above.

North American version

The North American version starts: ''I was totin' my pack along the dusty Winnemucca road''
Places mentioned in the first verse: Reno, Chicago, Fargo, Minnesota,
Buffalo, Toronto, Winslow, Sarasota,
Wichita, Tulsa, Ottawa, Oklahoma,
Tampa, Panama, Mattawa, La Paloma,
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, Devils Lake and Crater Lake.
Third verse: Louisville, Nashville, Knoxville, Ombabika,
Schefferville, Jacksonville, Waterville, Costa-Rica,
Pittsfield, Springfield, Bakersfield, Shreveport,
Hackensack, Cadillac, Fond Du Lac, Davenport,
Idaho, Jellico, Argentine, Diamantina,
Pasadena and Catalina.
Fourth verse: Pittsburgh, Parkersburg, Gravelbourg, Colorado,
Ellensburg, Rexburg, Vicksburg, El Dorado,
Larimore, Atmore, Haverstraw, Chatanika,
Chaska, Nebraska, Alaska, Opelika,
Baraboo, Waterloo, Kalamazoo, Kansas City,
Sioux City, Cedar City and Dodge City.

New Zealand version

The New Zealand version starts: ''Well I was hitching a ride on a winding Hokitika road, when along came a lorry....''
First verse: Kaparoa, Whangaroa, Akaroa, Motueka,
Taramoa, Benmore, Pongaroa, Horoeka,
Rimutaka, Te Karaka, Whangarei, Nuhaka,
Waimahaka, Motuhura, Waikaka, Motonui,
Hokonui, Papanui, Wainui, Matawai, Rongotai, Pikowai
Second verse: Woodville, Dargaville, Lumsden, Katikati,
Naseby, Cambridge, Porirua, Mararoa,
Hastings, Tikitiki, Tauranga, Auckland,
Naenae, Waitaha, Hamilton, Poroporo,
Taupo, Timaru, Oamaru, Tihoi, Awanui, Wanganui, Pauanui
Third verse: Featherston, Palmerston, Woolston, Te Awamutu,
Riverton, Queenstown, Picton, Ohinemutu,
Morere, Korere, Rotorua, Kaikoura,
Matamata, Ruakura, Ikamatua, Papakura,
Waitaki, Pukaki, Taranaki, Te Kauwhata,
Ropata, Ikowai, Waitemata
Fourth verse: Ruatoki, Matahura, Taupiri, Maketu,
Kyeburn, Sowburn, Wedderburn, Mossburn,
Washdyke, Arawhata, Paparoa, Kaponga,
Teraha, Thames, Kerikeri, Kokoma,
Tapanui, Porinui, Tawanui, Otahuhu,
Ruatapu, Mosgiel, Whareroa
Fifth verse: Kapiti, Ngawaka, Onepu, Reporoa,
Tongariro, Tomoana, Renwick, Papamoa,
Karitane, Oxford, Parihaka, Karetu,
Coalgate, Whitecliffs, Urenui, Mamaku,
Waimea, Waharoa, Dannevirke, Ngahere,
Gordonton, Kingston, Oban

Other versions

Alaska (adapted by Michael Faubion): ''I got my snow machine stuck out on that windy Atmautluak trail''.
Belgium: Wies Willems, singer-songwriter from Vorselaar-Gent, wrote a cover in Dutch, in which he uses different places in Belgium. The song is being performed by "The Lost Highwayknights".
Canada: Stompin' Tom Connors adds an extra spoken segment of locations in Ontario and a verse for locations in the Maritimes. He also substitutes Canadian cities, including Halifax and Montreal, at various points in the other verses. Mike Ford, formerly a member of Moxy Fruvous, did an all-Canadian version for his album, Canada Needs You, in 2005.
Germany (adapted by Jackie Leven): on the 2007 album "Oh What A Blow That Phantom Dealt Me!".
Springfield's state (adapted by Tim Long): The ''Simpsons'' episode "Mobile Homer" includes a version of the song listing the various fictional towns in the series.
Texas (adapted By Brian Burns): ''I was totin’ my pack along the dusty Amarillo road''.

Use of the song in advertising

Telstra used the Australian version to advertise its new Next-G 3.5G mobile network in 2006.
Choice Hotels used the Johnny Cash version in TV ads aired during 2005, 2006, and 2007.
Additionally, 30-second snippets of the song have been created for the following locations:
Chicago: The Chicago Transit Authority used various neighborhoods/stops along the transit lines in a 2005 ad.
Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex: Dallas-based TexasLending.com uses suburbs in the Metroplex area.
Pittsburgh: KDKA News Radio uses suburbs in the Pittsburgh region, where KDKA covers.
Faroe Islands: EITT The melody with new lyrics is to be used in an advertising campaign for Faroese telecome company EITT.
New Brunswick, Canada: 2007 TV Ad for Enbridge Natural Gas with Provincial town & street names added. Seen often on CBC during hockey games.

Trivia

★ Australian musician Kevin Bloody Wilson did a mini-parody of the song within his song "Nigel Krap", about an Aborigine named Nigel. Placenames used include heavy repetition of the Western Australian town of Meekatharra, hospital and jail.

★ The Johnny Cash version was used during the opening credits of the 2004 movie ''Flight of the Phoenix''.

★ Due to the royalties Geoff Mack has received from the use of this song in commercials and recordings, neither he nor his wife have been eligible for the old age pension.

External links

★ I've Been Everywhere

★ I've Been Everywhere Truck Driving Lyrics

★ I've Been Everywhere Man (Bigpond)

★ I've Been Everywhere Man (Bigpond)

★ I've Been Everywhere versions