"Wagon Wheel" is the most well known song by Old Crow Medicine Show, with many calling it the "signature tune" of the band. While thought by some as an Old Crow original, band member Ketch Secor has told the story of how "Wagon Wheel" was inspired by an obscure Bob Dylan recording.
Secor, in fact describes it as him finishing a Bob Dylan song. The initial lyrics and idea for "Wagon Wheel" came from a Bob Dylan outtake from the soundtrack to the film "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid" that Secor was listening to, he then used what he heard Dylan sing on the recording and fashioned "Wagon Wheel" from the inspiration and lyrics he received from Bob Dylan.
"Wagon Wheel" by Old Crow Medicine Show appeared as the 11th and final track on the bands self-titled full-length debut album, "Old Crow Medicine Show," often abbreviated as "O.C.M.S." Since the songs release on "O.C.M.S." many other bands have covered "Wagon Wheel."
Wagon Wheel Music Video by Old Crow Medicine Show
Wagon Wheel Lyrics
Wagon Wheel
By - Old Crow Medicine Show
Headed down south to the land of the pines
And I'm thumbin' my way into North Caroline
Starin' up the road
Pray to God I see headlights
I made it down the coast in seventeen hours
Pickin' me a bouquet of dogwood flowers
And I'm a-hopin' for Raleigh
I can see my baby tonight
So rock me, mama, like a wagon wheel
Rock me, mama, any way you feel
Hey, mama rock me
Rock me, mama, like the wind and the rain
Rock me, mama, like a south-bound train
Hey, mama rock me
Runnin' from the cold up in New England
I was born to be a fiddler in an old-time string band
My baby plays the guitar
I pick a banjo now
Oh, the North country winters keep a-gettin' me now
Lost my money playin' poker so I had to up and leave
But I ain't a-turnin' back
To livin' that old life no more
So rock me, mama, like a wagon wheel
Rock me, mama, any way you feel
Hey, mama rock me
Rock me, mama, like the wind and the rain
Rock me, mama, like a south-bound train
Hey, mama rock me
Walkin' to the south out of Roanoke
I caught a trucker out of Philly
Had a nice long toke
But he's a-headed west from the Cumberland Gap
To Johnson City, Tennessee
And I got to get a move on before the sun
I hear my baby callin' my name
And I know that she's the only one
And if I die in Raleigh
At least I will die free
So rock me, mama, like a wagon wheel
Rock me, mama, any way you feel
Hey, mama rock me
Rock me, mama, like the wind and the rain
Rock me, mama, like a south-bound train
Hey, mama rock me
The Old Crow band credits on O.C.M.S. were -
- Critter Fuqua - Banjo Guitar, Vocals, Bottleneck Guitar
- Ketcham Secor - Banjo, Fiddle, Harmonica, Vocals
- Kevin Hayes - Guit-jo
- Morgan Jahnig - Bass (Upright)
- Willie Watson - Banjo, Guitar, Vocals
Current Old Crow band members include those above, plus - Gill Landry & Cory Younts.
Guest Musicians on O.C.M.S are credited as -
- David Rawlings - Guitar
- Gillian Welch - Drums
- Randy Thompson - Harmonica
