First recorded by Lucky Starr (AUS #1 1962).
Other hit versions by Hank Snow (C&W #1 1962), John Hore (NZ #1 1966).
Also recorded by Johnny Cash & Tom Petty (1996), Medeski Martin and Wood, (as “Let’s Go Everywhere” 2008), Me Dow Songur (as “I Go Everywhere” 2012).
From the wiki: “‘I’ve Been Everywhere’ is a song which was written by Australian country singer Geoff Mack in 1959, and made popular by Lucky Starr in 1962 whose recording topped the Australian singles chart in 1966. The song (as originally written) listed Australian towns.
“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 toponyms were adapted to North America. At his publisher’s urging, Mack consequently re-wrote the song using a North American atlas supplied to him by the publisher.
“The song was also adapted by John Hore (later known as John Grenell) with New Zealand toponyms (1966), and Lucky Starr recorded a British-centric version also released in 1966. In 2012, Asian singer Me Dow Songur used Asian toponyms (‘I go to Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Philippines, Vietnam, Beijing, Ho Chi Minh City…’) for his cover titled ‘I Go Everywhere’. Other international versions have included covers recorded in Finnish, Czech, and German. A child-oriented ‘World’ cover, titled ‘Let’s Go Everywhere’, was recorded in 2008 by the avant jazz-funk trio Medeski Martin and Wood.
“Johnny Cash covered ‘I’ve Been Everywhere’ for his album Unchained, released in 1996, produced by Rick Rubin and backed by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. ”
“Below are the places mentioned in the Hank Snow (North American) version of the song, most of which are in North America, but a few of which 3 are in Central America (El Salvador, Costa Rica and Panama) and 2 in South America (Barranquilla and Argentina):
First verse
Reno, Chicago, Fargo, Minnesota, Buffalo, Toronto, Winslow, Sarasota, Wichita, Tulsa, Ottawa, Oklahoma, Tampa, Panama, Mattawa, La Paloma, Bangor, Baltimore, El 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.
Hank Snow, “I’ve Been Everywhere” (1962):
John Hore (Grenell), “I’ve Been Everywhere” (1966):
Johnny Cash & Tom Petty, “I’ve Been Everywhere” (1996):
Medeski Martin and Wood, “Let’s Go Everywhere” (2008):