Wabash Cannonball

by The Carter Family

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Lyrics

From out the wide Pa cif ic to the broad At lan tic (C)shore, she (D7)climbs climbed high Rock moun tains up hill and by the (G)shore.

Al the though she’s tall and hand some and she’s known quite well by (C)all, she’s a (D7)reg ’lar com bi na tion of the Wa bash Can non (G)ball.

Our east ern states are dan dies, so the west ern peo ple (C)say.

When (D7)she climbed Old Rock Is land took all her style a (G)way.

To the Lakes of Min ne so ta where the rip pling wa ters (C)fall, no a (D7)chang es can be tak en on the Wa bash Can non (G)ball.

Our (G)ball.

(Bb)She (B)came (C)down from Bir ming ham gle one the cold De cem ber (F)day.

As she (G7)pulled in to the sta tion you could hear all the peo ple (C)say: There’s a gal from Ten nes the see, gine she is long and she is (F)tall.

She she’s (G7)come from Bir ming ham gle on the Wa bash Can non (C)ball.

Just (C)lis ten to the jin gle and the rum ble and the (F)roar, as she (G7)glides a long the wood land to the hills and the to the (C)shore.

Hear the might y rush of the en gine hear the lone some ho boes (F)call, while she’s (G7)trav ’ling through the jun gle on the Wa bash Can non (C)ball.

Just (C)ball.

Here’s to (F)old man Dad dy Clax ton may his name for ev er (Bb)stand; may it (C)al ways be re mem bered through out the (F)land.

His earth ly race is o ver and the cur tains ’round him (Bb)fall.

We’ll (C)car ry him home to vic t’ry on the Wa (Bb)bash (Eb)Can (E)non (F)ball.

Wabash Cannonball by The Carter Family — Easy Piano for Kids

This page shows “Wabash Cannonball by The Carter Family in our color-coded kid songbook view — every note is colored by pitch (red C, orange D, yellow E, green F, blue G, purple A, pink B) and the lyrics sit directly under each note, so children can sing along while they play. The song is in the key of G at 196 BPM, a comfortable easy-level arrangement perfect for first-time learners.

Tips for parents & teachers

  • Start at 50% tempo using the BPM control. Speed up only when your child can play through without stopping.
  • Turn on the metronome from the top bar to build steady rhythm.
  • Use the segmented OFF / C / 1 button to toggle note labels on the staff and keys — kids learn note names faster with letters showing.
  • Tap a measure number on the timeline to jump to a specific section for repeat practice.

Frequently asked questions

Is "Wabash Cannonball" good for a child learning piano?
Yes — this color-coded arrangement is designed for ages 4-12. Each note is colored by pitch so kids match colors to keys, no music reading required. Lyrics sit under every note for sing-along play.
What age can start with "Wabash Cannonball"?
Children as young as 4 can follow the color-coded notes. By age 6-7 most kids can play through the song themselves with light guidance. Parent help is recommended for the first few sessions.
Do we need a piano teacher to use this?
No — the color-coded format is designed to be self-explanatory. Parents with no music background can supervise. Teachers can also use it as an introductory lesson tool.
Can we print the sheet music?
Yes — tap "Download Sheet Music" above for a free printable PDF with the same color-coded notes that appear on screen.