Heading down south to the land of the pines

I'm thumbing my way into North Carolina

Staring up the road and pray to God I see headlights
I made it down the coast in seventeen hours
Picking me a bouquet of dogwood flowers
cnd I'm a-hopin' for Raleigh, I can see my baby tonight
So rock me momma like a wagon wheel
Rock me momma any way you feel
Hey momma rock me
Rock me momma like the wind and the rain
Rock me momma like a south bound train
Hey momma rock me
Running from the cold up in New England
I was born to be a fiddler in an old time string band
My baby plays a guitar, I pick a banjo now
Oh, north country winters keep a-getting me down
Lost my money playing poker so I had to leave town
But I ain't turning back to livin that old life no more
Walkin' to the south out of Roanoke
I caught a trucker out of Philly had a nice long talk
But he's a-heading west from the Cumberland gap
To Johnson City, Tennessee
I gotta get a move on before the sun
I hear my baby calling my name and I know that she's the only one
cnd if I die in Raleigh at least I will die free


Lyrics submitted by MIC, edited by sokorny

Wagon Wheel Lyrics as written by Ketch Secor Bob Dylan

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, DO WRITE MUSIC LLC

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Wagon Wheel (Demo) song meanings
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12 Comments

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  • +4
    General Comment

    This song was actually originally called "Rock Me Mama" and was recorded in Mexico in 1972 for the Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid movie. However, it was never released and was never actually finished either. The only part existing at that point was the chorus.

    The verses were added in by a guy named Ketch Secor, the lead singer of a bluegrass band called Old Crow Medicine Show, who released this finished version of the song a few years ago. It's by far their most popular song and is incredible to hear played live. Recently, Ketch went on a radio station and explained the origins of the song:

    "It'd be my pleasure to dispel the myth and rumor about the song Wagon Wheel, or "Rock Me Mama" as Bob Dylan himself called the song when he recorded it down in Mexico in 1972 for the soundtrack of Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid. This song was not released, and it was not finished either, this is a demo of a practice session of him, Rob Stoner, and a couple of gals doing the chorus over and over again while the bass player learns the bass line. That's what I heard on a German bootleg about nine years ago in high school. And I wrote the lyrics to the song because I loved the chorus so much and I sung it in my head for maybe a year straight, and then just penned what I penned, which is something of an autobiographical story about just wanting to get outta town, gettin outta school, and just wanting to go play music. It's sort of autobiographical like that. But yeah, it's sort of a Bob Dylan co-write with about 25 years inbetween."

    Anybody have a copy of that bootleg, or any other original version of this song?

    emoguitar131on November 01, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    no one's commented on this? Are they crazy? This song is amazing. It just makes me feel instantly better.

    PirateQueenon October 20, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    i'm pretty sure its "gotta get a move on before the sun", not "fit for the sun". great song.

    check out OCMS live if you ever get a chance, always a great show!

    wilruson March 27, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I heard this song for the first time last night at a local show. Two boys strumming guitars and everyone surrounding me singing along, Loved how easy it was to catch onto the lyrics of this song. The feeling you get hearing it live with a bunch of people singing along is Phenomenal.

    dillingeron April 11, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    here's the original demo, it's really amazing, and there is a verse thats impossible to understand. if anyone can figure out the lyrics please let me know.

    youtube.com/watch

    connorlawhorneon May 14, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i went to a kevin devine show earlier this month and an awesome dude named koji did a cover of this song, which i had completely forgotten about. i had very much overlooked its beauty and wish i could find a downloadable version of it.

    mafooseon August 23, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I love this song! Here's an interesting version, Wagon Wheel Gone Trop Rock. A 'Jimmy Buffett' twist half way through!

    shelleyp3on April 05, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Love this song!!! I came across this version that is Awesome, . . . sexier than the original, IMHO!! "Wagon Wheel Gone Trop Rock" Has a Jimmy Buffett twist - funny!

    youtu.be/IkIEcgb1L5M

    shelleyp3on April 05, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This is one of my favorite songs!! I've been singing it for years, even though one line wasn't really ok for my age. I just cahnged the line and have been singing it like that for ever. That line was " caught a trucker out of filly had a nice long toke." and i changed it to " nice long talk" there now i can sing it!!

    madhatter1on April 15, 2013   Link
  • 0
    Question

    Why are there the Old Crow Medicine Show lyrics?

    XZYOEon April 18, 2013   Link

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