Standard (EADGBE)
Out from the wide Pacific to the broad Atlantic shore
She climbs the flowery mountains, over hills and by the shore
Although she's tall and handsome and she's known quite well by all
She's a regular combination, the Wabash Cannonball.
Chorus
Oh, listen to the jingle, the rumble and the roar
As she glides along the woodland, over hills and by the shore
She climbs the flowery mountains, hear the merry hobo squall
As she glides along the woodland, the Wabash Cannonball.
Oh the Eastern states are dandy, so the Western people say
Chicago, Rock Island, St. Louis by the way
To the lakes of Minnesota where the rippling waters fall
No chances to be taken on the Wabash Cannonball.
Chorus
I have rode the I.C. Limited, also the Royal Blue
Across the Eastern counties on Elkhorn Number Two
I have rode these highball trains from coast to coast that's all
But I have found no equal to the Wabash Cannonball.
Chorus
Oh, here's old daddy Cleaton, let his name forever be
And long be remembered in the courts of Tennessee
For he is a good old rounder 'til the curtain round him fall
He'll be carried back to victory on the Wabash Cannonball.
Folk music is a wonderful thing. Here's another shot at the lyrics -
Wabash Cannonball
From the great Atlantic ocean to the wide Pacific shores,
From the Queen of flowin mountains, to the south belle by the shore,
She's mighty tall and hanndsome and she's known quite well by all,
She's the modern combination on the Wabash Cannonball
She came down from Birmingham one cold December day
And as she stood in the roundhouse you could hear all the people say
"There's a gal from Tennesee and, man, she's long and she's tall.
She came down from Birmingham on the Wabash Cannonball"
Well here's to Daddy Claxton, may his name forever be !
And long be remembered in the courts of Tennesee.
His earthly trials are over as the final curtain falls.
We'll carry him home to vict'ry on the Wabash Cannonball.
Her eastern states are dandy, some people always say.
From New York to St. Louis and Chicago on the way,
From the hills (!) of Minnesota, where the sparkling waters fall -
No changes can be taken on the Wabash Cannonball.
So listen to the jingle, the rumble and the roar
As she glides along the foothills and the pathways to the shore.
Hear the mighty rush of the engines, hear the lonesome hobos call
As they rumble through the jungle on the Wabash Cannonball.
Lee Sawyer
Dept of Physics
Univ. of Texas
at Arlington
Rather than using G-C-D, I have always played Wabash Cannonball
using G-Am-D7. Try that and see if it dooesn't sound better.