About The Song
“Orange Blossom Special” was originally written in 1938 by Ervin T. Rouse and Chubby Wise, inspired by the Seaboard Air Line Railroad’s passenger train of the same name, which ran from New York City to Florida. Johnny Cash recorded his version on December 20, 1964, at Columbia Recording Studios in Nashville, Tennessee, produced by Don Law and Frank Jones. The track was released as a single in January 1965 by Columbia Records, with “All God’s Children Ain’t Free” as the B-side, and included on the album Orange Blossom Special, released in February 1965. The song, running 3:06, is a country-bluegrass track featuring Cash’s vocals, harmonica, and train-like sound effects, backed by the Tennessee Three and guest musicians like Boots Randolph on saxophone.
The single entered the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart at number 45 on January 30, 1965, peaking at number 3 on March 6, 1965, and charted for 12 weeks. It also reached number 80 on the Billboard Hot 100. Internationally, it peaked at number 4 in Canada’s RPM Country Tracks and number 12 in Australia. The song’s energetic performance and train-mimicking harmonica helped it resonate widely, selling over 250,000 copies. Cash Box described it as a “high-spirited, rollicking rendition” with “infectious drive,” noting its appeal to country and pop audiences. The track became a staple in Cash’s live shows, showcasing his affinity for train-themed songs.
Background details include Cash’s lifelong fascination with trains, reflected in his earlier works like “Folsom Prison Blues.” He learned the song from the Rouse Brothers’ 1939 recording and added his distinctive harmonica, inspired by bluegrass fiddling techniques. The recording session featured Luther Perkins on guitar, Marshall Grant on bass, W.S. Holland on drums, and a horn section, a rare addition for Cash. Covers include versions by The Rouse Brothers (1939), Bill Monroe (1942), and The Charlie Daniels Band (1974). Cash performed it on The Johnny Cash Show in 1970 and at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival. No major controversies arose, though some bluegrass purists noted Cash’s adaptation leaned more toward country than traditional fiddle tunes.
Expert commentary includes AllMusic’s Stephen Thomas Erlewine, who called it a “definitive Cash performance” for its blend of country and bluegrass energy. Songfacts highlighted its role in expanding Cash’s repertoire beyond somber ballads. Rolling Stone praised its “propulsive rhythm,” likening it to a musical train ride. The song’s inclusion in the 2005 film Walk the Line, performed by Joaquin Phoenix, and its use in a 2010 episode of NCIS underscore its lasting impact. Its live performance at Cash’s 1968 Folsom Prison concert, with inmates’ enthusiastic cheers, added to its legacy as a crowd-pleaser.
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Lyric
Look a-yonder comin’, comin’ down that railroad track
Look a-yonder comin’, comin’ down that railroad track
It’s the Orange Blossom Special, bringin’ my baby backWell, I’m goin’ down to Florida and get some sand in my shoes
Or maybe Californy and get some sand in my shoes
I’ll ride that Orange Blossom Special and lose these New York blues“Say man, when you goin’ back to Florida?”
“When am I goin’ back to Florida? I don’t know, don’t reckon I ever will”
“Ain’t you worried about gettin’ your nourishment in New York?”
“Well, I don’t care if I do-die-do-die-do-die-do-die”Hey, talk about a-ramblin’, she’s the fastest train on the line
Talk about a-travellin’, she’s the fastest train on the line
It’s that Orange Blossom Special, rollin’ down the seaboard line