Johnny Cash - I've been Everywhere

The original song is apparently from Australia, written around 1959 or 1960 and much modified for other countries.

See how you all go learning the original words. :D

I'VE BEEN EVERYWHERE
Music and Words by Geoff Mack)

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, 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 (spoken): Listen, mate, I've travelled ev'ry road in this here land.

Chorus:

'Cos I've been ev'rywhere, man,
I've been ev'rywhere, man;
Crossed the desert sand, man;
I've breathed the mountain air, man.
Of travel I've had my share, man;
I've been ev'rywhere.

I've been to Tullamore, Seymour, Lismore, Mooloolaba,
Nambour Maroochydore, Kilmore, Murwillumbah,
Birdsville, Emmaville, Wallaville, Cunnarnulla,
Condamine, Strathpine, Proserpine, Ulladulla,
Darwin, Gin Gin, Deniliquin, Muckadilla,
Wallambilla, Boggabilla, Kumbarilla, I'm a killer.

Moree, Taree, Jerilderie, Bambaroo,
Toowoomba, Gunnedah, Caringbah, Woolloomooloo,
Dalveen, Tamborine, Engadine, Jindabyne,
Lithgow, Casino, Boggabri, Gundagai,
Narrabri, Tibooburra, Megalong, Wyong, Tuggerawong, Wanganella,
Morella, Augathella, Brindabella, I'm the teller.

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, what's it matter.

Ettalong, Dandenong, Woodenbong, Ballarat,
Canberra, Milperra, Unanderra, Captain's Flat,
Cloncurry, River Murray, Kurri Kurri, Girraween,
Terrigal, Fingal, Stockinbingal, Collaroy and Narrabeen,
Bendigo, Dorrigo, Bangalow, Indooroopilly,
Kirribilli, Yeerongpilly, Wollondilly, don't be silly.

I've been here, there, ev'rywhere,
I've been ev'rywhere.

Orright, mate, you've been ev'ry place but one, and ya don't need my help t'get there.

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Got that, or do you want me to go through it again...? :wink:

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Apologies to Geoff Mack for posting his lyrics, but after 50 odd years I don't think he'd mind all that much, expecially as nobody here is actually likely to memorise them... :wink:

Damn, now I've got THREE versions to learn! :D

Pete

darn, now I've got THREE versions to learn! :D

Pete

to the 30th decimal place.......AND BY TEA-TIME TOMORROW :(

darn, now I've got THREE versions to learn! :D

Pete

to the 30th decimal place.......AND BY TEA-TIME TOMORROW :(
maybe if you PM mr Hodge :roll: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

darn, now I've got THREE versions to learn! :D

Pete

to the 30th decimal place.......AND BY TEA-TIME TOMORROW :(
maybe if you PM mr Hodge :roll: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

But careful -- David has never had any qualms about making it up as he goes along.

if your having a problem remembering the towns/cities try 'chunking'

As a kid I always loved and hated this song ...

Loved it because it was sung so fast and we used to try to sing along with it ..

Hated it because I live in ROCKHAMPTON , nothing fits with Rockhampton ...

The original song, with Australian place names, was written by Geoff Mack, in 1959.
Those place names made the North American ones sound easy by comparison.
In 1962, Geoff wrote the North American lyrics version for RCA for the Hank Snow recording.
He did other lyric versions later, including a British one.
If you Google Geoff Mack and the song title you'll get a lot of info on this song.

When I learned the song in 1964, I jotted down the first letter of each place name in sequence, 8 to a row;
R,C,F,M, B,T,W,S (for Reno, Chicago, Fargo, Minnesota, etc, etc.), and stuck that crib sheet on my flat top where I could glance at it.