Places Visited by Hank Snow in “I’ve Been Everywhere”

Australian songwriter and country singer Geoff Mack wrote the original version of the song “I’ve Been Everywhere” in 1962. Being based in Australia, the song listed various destinations located in the said country. On that same year, Australian singer Leslie Morrison, or commonly known by his stage name Lucky Starr, recorded it. The four-verse song was later adapted into three other versions representing three different countries: North America, New Zealand, and Great Britain and Ireland. Since then, several artists from country music have covered the song including Hank Snow (1962), Lynn Anderson (1970), Johnny Cash (1996), Kacey Musgraves (2003), among others. Also, the original singer Lucky Starr released an EP called “Lucky’s Been Everywhere” containing all the four different versions of the song.

Hank Snow’s Version

The Grand Ole Opry member Hank Snow was the first artist to cover the song in late 1962. That’s on the same year it was first released. And for the record, Snow’s record version was considered the most successful as it topped the country song chart. It was Geoff Mack’s publisher who offered the song to Snow. The Canadian-born singer was optimistic that it will become a hit among Canadians and Americans alike. However, that will only become possible if the toponyms were adapted to North America. Consequently, Geoff Mack re-wrote the song with the use of a North American atlas. The North American version was then born and this was what Snow recorded in 1962. See the lyrics of Snow’s version below to find out the places he’s been to.

Some Lyrics (North American Version)

I was totin’ my pack
Along the dusty Winnemucca road
When along came a semi
With a high and canvas covered load
“If you’re going to Winnemucca, Mack
With me you can ride.”
So I climbed into the cab
And then I settled down inside
He asked me if I’d seen a road
With so much dust and sand
And I said,
“Listen, Bud I’ve traveled
Every road in this here land.”

(Chorus)
I’ve been everywhere, man
I’ve been everywhere, man
‘Cross the deserts bare, man
I’ve breathed the mountain air, man
Of travel, I’ve had my share, man
I’ve been everywhere.

Been to 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, I’m a killer.
(Chorus)

I’ve been everywhere, man
I’ve been everywhere, man
‘Cross the deserts bare, man
I’ve breathed the mountain air, man
Of travel, I’ve had my share, man
“I know some place you haven’t been.”
I’ve been everywhere.”

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