I’ve Been Everywhere
During our travel gestation period we came up with the idea of visiting every town mentioned in the Australian version of the song, “I’ve Been Everywhere”. I’m sure we’re not the first to think of doing this, but still, it might be fun. To that end, here’s the lyrics to the song. We’ll update this page with links to our travels as we cross towns off the list.
As for rules, previous visits don’t count, nor does simply passing through. A stop long enough to take a picture or grab lunch is required.
According to the I’ve Been Everywhere site, the lyricist – Geoff Mack – only had maps of Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria available at the time of writing and so, with a couple of exceptions, they are the only states featured in the song. That’s a shame, but it is what it is.
We’ll also try visiting all of Australia’s Big Things and the Silo Trail.
I’ve Been Everywhere
Lyrics by Geoff Mack, as sung by Lucky Starr (1962)
Well, I was humpin’ my bluey on the dusty Oodnadatta road,
When along came a semi with a high and canvas-covered load.
(Spoken) “If you’re goin’ to Oodnadatta, mate, um, with me you can ride.”
So I climbed in the cabin and I settled down inside.
He asked me if I’d seen a road with so much dust and sand, I said
“Listen, mate, I’ve travelled ev’ry road in this here land.”
Chorus:
Cos “I’ve been everywhere, man,
I’ve been everywhere, man.
‘Cross the deserts bare, man;
I’ve breathed the mountain air, man.
Of travel I’ve had my share, man.
I’ve been ev’rywhere.
Been to:
Tullamore, Seymour, Lismore, Mooloolaba,
Nambour, Maroochydore, Kilmore, Murwillumbah,
Birdsville, Emmaville, Wallaville, Cunnamulla,
Condamine, Strathpine, Proserpine, Ulladulla,
Darwin, Gin Gin, Deniliquin, Muckadilla,
Wallumbilla, Boggabilla, Kumbarilla,
I’m a killer.
Chorus:
(Spoken) “Yeah but listen here, mate, have you been to…”
I’ve been to Moree, Taree, Jerilderie, Bambaroo,
Toowoomba, Gunnedah, Caringbah, Woolloomooloo,
Dalveen, Tamborine, Engadine, Jindabyne,
Lithgow, Casino, Brigalow and Narromine,
Megalong, Wyong, Tuggerawong, Wanganella,
Morella, Augathella, Brindabella, I’m the feller.
Chorus:
(Spoken) “Yeah, I know that, but have you been to…”
I’ve been to Wollongong, Geelong, Kurrajong, Mullumbimby,
Mittagong, Molong, Grong Grong, Goondiwindi,
Yarra Yarra , Bouindarra, Wallangarra, Turramurra,
Boggabri, Gundagai, Narrabri, Tibooburra,
Gulgong, Adelong, Billabong, Cabramatta,
Parramatta, Wangaratta, Coolangatta, what’s it matter?
Chorus:
(Spoken) “Yeah, look that’s fine, but how about…”
I’ve been to Ettalong, Dandenong, Woodenbong, Ballarat,
Canberra, Milperra, Unanderra, Captains Flat,
Cloncurry, River Murray, Kurri Kurri, Girraween,
Terrigal, Fingal, Stockinbingal, Collaroy and Narrabeen,
Bendigo, Dorrigo, Bangalow, Indooroopilly,
Kirribilli, Yeerongpilly, Wollondilly, don’t be silly.
Chorus:
I’ve been here, there, ev’rywhere, I’ve been ev’rywhere.
(Spoken) “Okay, mate, you’ve been ev’ry place except one, and ya don’t need my help t’get there.”
And for our own reference, here is the list of towns in alphabetical order:
Adelong, NSW
Augathella, Qld
Ballarat, Vic
Bambaroo, Qld
Bangalow, NSW
Bendigo, Vic
Billabong, NSW
Birdsville, Qld
Boggabilla, NSW
Boggabri, NSW
Bouindarra, Vic (Melbourne)
Brigalow, Qld
Brindabella, NSW
Cabramatta, NSW (Sydney)
Canberra, ACT
Captains Flat, NSW
Caringbah, NSW (Sydney)
Casino, NSW
Cloncurry, Qld
Collaroy, NSW (Sydney)
Condamine, Qld
Coolangatta, Qld
Cunnamulla, Qld
Dalveen, Qld
Dandenong, Vic (Melbourne)
Darwin, NT
Deniliquin, NSW
Dorrigo, NSW
Emmaville, NSW
Engadine, NSW (Sydney)
Ettalong, NSW
Fingal, NSW
Geelong, Vic
Gin Gin, Qld
Girraween, NSW (Sydney)
Goondiwindi, Qld
Grong Grong, NSW
Gulgong, NSW
Gundagai, NSW
Gunnedah, NSW
Indooroopilly, Qld (Brisbane)
Jerilderie, NSW
Jindabyne, NSW
Kilmore, Vic
Kirribilli, NSW (Sydney)
Kumbarilla, Qld
Kurrajong, NSW
Kurri Kurri, NSW
Lismore, NSW
Lithgow, NSW
Maroochydore, Qld
Megalong, NSW
Milperra, NSW (Sydney)
Mittagong, NSW
Molong, NSW
Mooloolaba, Qld
Morella, Qld
Muckadilla, Qld
Mullumbimby, NSW
Murwillumbah, NSW
Nambour, Qld
Narrabeen, NSW (Sydney)
Narrabri, NSW (Sydney)
Narromine, NSW
Oodnadatta, SA
Parramatta, NSW (Sydney)
Proserpine, Qld
River Murray
Seymour, Vic
Stockinbingal, NSW
Strathpine, Qld
Tamborine, Qld
Taree, NSW
Terrigal, NSW (Sydney)
Tibooburra, NSW
Toowoomba, Qld
Tuggerawong, NSW
Tullamore, NSW
Turramurra, NSW (Sydney)
Ulladulla, NSW
Unanderra, NSW
Wallangarra, Qld
Wallaville, Qld
Wallumbilla, Qld
Wangaratta, Vic
Wanganella, NSW
Wollondilly, NSW (Sydney)
Wollongong, NSW
Woodenbong, NSW
Woolloomooloo, NSW (Sydney)
Wyong, NSW
Yarra Yarra, Vic. Yarra Yarra was apparently a region near Goulburn, NSW, but no trace seems to remain. The wikipedia search redirects to the Yarra River, so that’s what I have included.
Yeerongpilly, Qld
