Today’s song of the day is “On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe” by Johnny Mercer. It was composed by Harry Warren and written by Johnny Mercer. 

“On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe” is one of Mercer’s most significant works. As a result of his talent and dedication, he was able to win an Academy Award in 1946 for Best Original Song.

The song’s lyrics that focus on the fallen flag railroad served as one of the key motivators for its use as the soundtrack of the film “The Harvey Girls.”

Fun Facts about Johnny Mercer:

• Johnny Mercer was the pioneering president of the Songwriters Hall of Fame

• He created over 1000 lyrics in collaboration with other famous composers such as Richard Whiting

• The song peaked at number one for 16 consecutive weeks.

The Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe closed its doors in December 1996 after merging with the Burlington Northern Railroad to form the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway.

• Johnny Mercer is the founder of Capitol records.

• Johnny Mercer hailed from Savannah, Georgia, US.

• Decca Records released Bing Crosby’s version under catalog number 18690.

• The version by MGM Chorus, Ray Bolger, and Virginia O’Brien was used in the film “The Harvey Girls.” Bing Crosby’s version made it to the hit charts in 1945.

Lyrics

Do ya hear that whistle down the line?

I figure that it’s engine number forty nine

She’s the only one that’ll sound that way

On the Atchison, Topeka And The Santa Fe

See the old smoke risin’ ’round the bend

I reckon that she knows she’s gonna meet a friend

Folks around these parts get the time of day

From The Atchison, Topeka And The Santa Fe

Here she comes

Whoo hoo hoo hoo hoo

Hey, Jim you’d better get the rig

Whoo hoo hoo hoo hoo

She’s got a list o’ passengers that’s pretty big

And they’ll all want lifts to Brown’s Hotel

‘Cause lots o’ them been travelin’ for quite a spell

All the way from Philadelphiay

On The Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe

All aboard, all aboard

Here she comes

Whoo hoo hoo hoo hoo

Hey, Jim you’d better get the rig

Whoo hoo hoo hoo hoo

She’s got a list o’ passengers that’s pretty big

And they’ll all want lifts to Brown’s Hotel

‘Cause lots o’ them been travelin’ for quite a spell

All the way from Philadelphiay

On The Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe