I've Been Everywhere

Megalong Valley

The song "I've Been Everywhere" was written by Geoff Mack in 1959 and made popular by the singer Lucky Starr in 1962.

The song (as originally written) listed Australian towns. It was later adapted by Hank Snow for North American (predominantly 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), Chip Dockery, Ted Egan, Little Jan Buckner of Wendy Bagwell & The Sunliters (USA 1972), the "Farrelly Brothers" from the television series The Aunty Jack Show (Australia 1974, a parody version), John Grenell (NZ 1966), Mike Ford (Canada, 2005), Rolf Harris (UK 1963), Clifton Jansky, Willie Nelson, The Sunny Cowgirls and the Statler Brothers. Harvey Reid also included the song in his Dreamer or Believer album.

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)).

Australian version

Some of the locations in the Australian version

The Australian version starts: Well, I was humpin' my bluey 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 traveled every road in this here land. 'Cause...

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, Tuggerawong, Wanganella, Morella, Augathella, Brindabella

Verse 3

Wollongong, Geelong, Kurrajong, Mullumbimby, Mittagong, Cooranbong, 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, Stockinbingal, Collaroy, Narrabeen, Bendigo, Dorrigo, Bangalow, Indooroopilly, Kirribilli, Yeerongpilly, Wollondilly

For some of the above, there is more than one place in Australia with the same name (e.g. Coolangatta, Gin Gin and Fingal). The links given above are the most famous locations with those names.

North American version

"I've Been Everywhere"
Single by Hank Snow
from the album I've Been Everywhere
B-side	Ancient History
Released	September 1962
Format	7"
Recorded	27 June 1962
Genre	Country
Length	2:45
Label	RCA Records 47-8072
Writer(s)	Geoff Mack
Producer	Chet Atkins
Hank Snow singles chronology
"You Take The Future (And I'll Take The Past)" (1962) "I've Been Everywhere" (1962) "The Man Who Robbed The Bank Of Santa Fe " (1963)

Geoff Mack's music publisher offered the song to Canadian-born country musician Hank Snow in 1962. Snow thought the song had potential for the Canadian and American markets, but only if the place names were adapted to North America. At his publisher's urging, Geoff Mack consequently re-wrote the song using a North American atlas supplied to him by the publisher. 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 North America, but a few of which are in Central and South America, e.g. Costa Rica and Argentina:

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, Argentina, Diamantina, Pasadena and Catalina.

Fourth verse

Pittsburgh, Parkersburg, Gravelbourg, Colorado, Ellensburg, Rexburg, Vicksburg, El Dorado, Larimore, Atmore, Haverstraw, Chattanooga, 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, Motunui, 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, Te Aroha, 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.

Aunty Jack

I've been to Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong,...

The Beer Song adapted by Doug Moreland (2000)

"Pabst Blue Ribbon, Old Samuel Adams, Bud Light, Corona, Foster’s, and Heineken, Nor don Blonde, got the girl on the front, If Homer were here he’d be drinking that Duff, Grolsch, and Guinness, and I ain’t finished I’ve drank a lot of beer."

Beers adapted by Jon Chalmers

"Scaeffer, Shiner, Horlacher, Heffenreffer, Coopers, Kruegers, Kingfisher, Knickerbocker, Fosters, Fullers, Lucky Lager, Silver Thunder, Miller, Paulener, Boulder, Old Peculiar, Rheingold, Michelob, Strohs, Grolsch, Guinness Gold, Yuengling, Carling, Youngs, and Little Kings..."

Belgium

Wies Willems, singer-songwriter from Vorselaar-Gent, wrote a cover in Dutch, in which he uses different places in Belgium. The song is 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 Früvous, did an all-Canadian version for his album, Canada Needs You, in 2005.

Canadian comedian Rick Moranis has a version called "I Ain't Goin' Nowhere" where he sings on why he won't leave his easy chair.

Czechoslovakia (adapted by Ladislav Vodička)

Já tu zemi znám

Eugene Chadbourne recorded a version on his 1988 album, also entitled I've Been Everywhere. He starts with Hank Snow's opening verse and then rattles off city names from all over the world (including Bogota, Khartoum and Nairobi), throws in a gentle poke at Neil Young and Farm Aid, and ends with Eugene declaring that there's only one place he hasn't been to--Alcatraz.

Faroe Islands

Used as soundtrack in a commercial for a broadband internet service (Eitt), listing places in the Faroe Islands where the service is available (all). The commercial is often called "Eitt er allastaðni" because of the chorus. Some places mentioned: Tjørnuvík, Dalur, Sandur, Mikladalur, Fuglafjørður, Skarvanes, Sandavágur, Oyri, Froðba.

Germany (adapted by Jackie Leven)

"I was walking down the Ku'damm in the City of Berlin." Complete with an entire verse of Baden-Baden. Published on the 2007 album "Oh What A Blow That Phantom Dealt Me!"

Pennsylvania (adapted by Earl Pickens)

"I was totin' my pack along the old Conshohocken Road."

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.

Houston (adapted By Hayes Carll)

I been to Houston, Houston, Houston, Houston....

Scotland (adapted By Charlene McGowan)

I was totin' my pack along a winding Highland Mountain Road

WoW (adapted By WorldofFilkcraft of YouTube)

I was totin' my packs along the dusty Barren's Gold Road.

Lists a number of places from inside the World of Warcaft game.

RuneScape (adapted by Excl of YouTube)

I was totin' my staff along the stony Wizard Tower road.

Excl lists numerous RuneScape locations but moves onto listing things he "0wned". (See pwn)

Rihanna

Use of the song in advertising

Telstra

Used the Australian version to advertise its new Next-G 3.5G mobile network in 2006. They also constantly use it in their BigPond Wireless Broadband advertisements featuring a family and friends travelling in a blue Volkswagen Kombi around Australia.

Choice Hotels

Used the Johnny Cash version in TV ads aired from 2005–present.

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 two 2004 ads.

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.

Saskatchewan

SaskTel, the government-owned telecom in Saskatchewan, has a long-running television commercial that adapts the song to "I Go Everywhere," listing off small towns in the province where SaskTel Mobility coverage is available. The towns named are: Warman, Watson, Maidstone, Radisson, Fox Valley, Unity, Southey, Davidson, Meath Park, Lucky Lake, Candle Lake, Neilburg, Outlook, Shellbrook, Aberdeen, Strasbourg, Cut Knife, Springside, Indian Head, Lemburg, Elrose, Melville, and Biggar.

The Sports Network (Canada)

in 2010 used a verision of the song that listed all the cities and regions in the National Hockey League to promote its coverage of trade deadline day.

Tennessee Governor's Highway Safety Office 

In 2010, used a version of the song in a television public service announcement claiming that law enforcement officers would be "everywhere" looking for impaired (drunk) drivers.

Other uses

The song was used in the title sequence of the 2004 film Flight of the Phoenix.

Kris Kristofferson also did an abbreviated version in the 1973 film "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid" during his escape scene.

In October 2003 the publisher Rightsong Music BMI granted permission to Frank Loconto to write new lyrics and title for the 2004 presidential campaign of Bob Graham FL. Title: "I've Done Every Job. Man" commemorating the more than 300 'workdays' performed by Graham during his 30 plus years of public service to the people of Florida. The song recorded by Frank Loconto FXL Records was included in a promotional CD "Bob Graham Charisma Album 2004".

Australian Peter Harris commenced visiting all the locations in the Australian version of "I've Been Everywhere" in December 2009. A record of his trip is located at ivebeeneverywhere.com.au.

In 2010 the Swedish band Movits! used the track for one of the episodes of their US tour movie "First we take Manhattan"

See also

• Kalamazoo, Michigan

Preceded by "Mama Sang a Song" by Bill Anderson

Billboard Hot Country Singles number-one single (Hank Snow version) 10 November 1962 15 December 1962

Succeeded by "Mama Sang a Song" by Bill Anderson