My journey with the iconic song “I’ve Been Everywhere” began in a rather unconventional place: hitchhiking out of Winnemucca, Nevada. While the specifics of that ride blur, the countless journeys with truckers across diverse landscapes, both within and beyond the United States, remain vivid. Interestingly, despite these extensive travels, I’ve never set foot in Ombabika or Jellicoe—both nestled in the northern reaches of Ontario, further north even than Schefferville, Quebec. Similarly, Barranquilla, Colombia, and Tocopilla, Chile, remain unfamiliar to me, their inclusion in the song “I’ve Been Everywhere” a geographical mystery, much like Diamantina, which could be in Brazil or, as suggested by my seasoned travel companion Jasper Winn, possibly Australia.
The Canadian locations in the song “I’ve Been Everywhere” gain context when considering Hank Snow, the artist who popularized this version. Hailing from Brooklyn, Nova Scotia—a seemingly paradoxical place name located in Queens County—Snow, ironically, didn’t include his hometown in the lyrics. It’s important to note that Hank Snow crafted his rendition of “I’ve Been Everywhere”, adapting it from the original Australian version by Lucky Starr. Starr’s rendition, notably faster paced than Snow’s or my own, marks the song’s global journey.
As someone who prides myself on lyrical recall—a passion underpinning this entire project—memorizing the “I’ve Been Everywhere” lyrics stood out as an unparalleled challenge. The memory of that evening remains etched in my mind: pacing my bedroom, repeating verses until a stumble, consulting the lyric sheet, restarting, pacing anew. I’ve long advocated for evening memorization, leveraging the brain’s overnight processing—a technique that proved remarkably effective. Nearly 35 years later, the lyrics are still firmly lodged in my cerebral folds, perhaps occupying space that could have been used for more… practical pursuits.
My motivation to conquer “I’ve Been Everywhere” stemmed from my friend Monte in Vancouver, a Canadian ex-rodeo rider and harmonica virtuoso, previously mentioned in discussions about Pancho and Lefty. Having frequently hitchhiked across the US and once across Canada, Monte believed that if this persona were to become part of my stage presence, mastering “I’ve Been Everywhere” was essential. The song’s essence resonated deeply with the spirit of travel and the vastness of the land.
Coincidentally, my last cross-country hitchhiking adventure occurred in 2006, during the book tour for Riding with Strangers, a narrative recounting my previous cross-country journey in 2005. Perhaps another such trip is overdue, mirroring the extensive travels detailed in “I’ve Been Everywhere”.
This brings to mind Dave Van Ronk’s humorous confession about his reluctance to pick up hitchhikers, despite my example. His reasoning? Hitchhikers, he lamented, were invariably chatty and often tedious. In a way, the song “I’ve Been Everywhere”, with its relentless listing of locations, somewhat embodies Van Ronk’s humorous complaint about the sometimes overwhelming nature of travel anecdotes.
*Intriguingly, Jellico is not exclusive to Ontario; there are also Jellicos in California and Tennessee. While Snow’s Canadian background suggests the Ontario Jellico, the song “I’ve Been Everywhere” leaves room for geographical ambiguity, adding to its universal appeal.
