Jun282022

Hank Snow – Wabash Cannonball Chords on Piano & Ukulele

Updated January 8, 2026

ChordsG C D

KeyKeyCapo

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[Intro]
G C D G

[Verse 1]
G
From the great Atlantic Ocean
                    C
to the wide Pacific shore
         D
From the banks of the sweet Maryland,
                      G
to the ice-bound Labrador
It's a scene of magic splendor, 
                        C
that is known by one and all
        D
She's a modern combination called
                 G
the  Wabash Cannonball

[Chorus]
G
Listen to the jingle,
                     C
to the rumble and the roar
       D
As she dances through the woodlands,
                      G
that steals along the shore
She's a mighty rushin' engine,
                        C
you can hear them hobos call
        D
As they ride the rods and the brake
                          G
beams on the Wabash Cannonball

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[Verse 2]
G
Your cities may be fairer,
                   C
as you can plainly see
           D
From Saint Paul to Minneapolis,
                    G
and the famous Albany
Then back to ole Niagara
                           C
where the laughing waters fall
        D
You can hear them hobos singin'
                    G
on the Wabash Cannonball

[Chorus]
G
Listen to the jingle,
                     C
to the rumble and the roar
       D
As she dances through the woodlands,
                      G
that steals along the shore
She's a mighty rushin' engine,
                        C
you can hear them hobos call
        D
As they ride the rods and the
                                G
brake beams on the Wabash Cannonball

Feel free to use our free Chord Shape Generator to see every chord in this song on guitar, ukulele and piano.

[Intrumental]
G D C G

[Verse 3]
G
Here's health to daddy Claxton,
                     D
may his name forever stand
    C
And always be respected by
                     G
folks throughout the land
And when his mortal race is run
                            D
and the curtains around him fall
      C
We'll carry him home to Glory
                    G
on the Wabash Cannonball

[Chorus]
G
Listen to the jingle,
                     C
to the rumble and the roar
       D
As she dances through the woodlands,
                      G
that steals along the shore
She's a mighty rushin' engine,
                        C
you can hear them hobos call
        D
As they ride the rods and the brake
                          G
beams on the Wabash Cannonball

How to play Wabash Cannonball: key, chords and progression

These are the chords for Wabash Cannonball by Hank Snow on Piano, Ukulele, Guitar, and Keyboard

Wabash Cannonball by Hank Snow is in the key of G major (one sharp: F♯). The song uses 3 chords: G, C and D.

The progression the song keeps returning to is G – C – D – G (I – IV – V – I in G major), the I–IV–V–I, the backbone of gospel, blues and folk. In solfa, that is doh – fah – soh – doh. Learn these 4 changes first and most of the song falls into place.

Beginner-friendly: every chord is an open chord on guitar, so you can play it without a capo or barre chords.