Orange Blossom Special

ervin rouse

This bluegrass classic is now fully credited Ervin Thomas Lidel Rouse (1918 - 1981), but was claimed cowritten by Robert Russell "Chubby" Wise (1915 – 1996), after a nightly jam session in Jacksonville, 1938. Wise was the first one to *record* it, but Rouse had years in advance already written "South Florida Blues", which the Special was based on. For a long time, the song was regarded an old standard with unknown author.   The "Orange Blossom Special" was a real coast line, renowned to be the strongest freight train ever ... at that time. It was closed down in 1953.   E.T. Rouse was a man of no ambitions. He started 8 years old as a vaudeville fiddler, formed a duo with his brother Gordon for many years, and ended up performing in roadhouses down in the swamps. He also wrote the bluegrass standard "Sweeter than the Flowers".

Johnny Cash was the man responsible for bringing the rights back home. His contacts with the Carter Family knew the background, and they dug up the man from the swamps. He was invited to a consert in Miami, presented as the songwriter, performed it with Johnny & The Tennessee Three and nobody has ever since dared to protest.

look yonder coming • coming down that railroad track
look yonder coming • coming down that railroad track
it's the Orange Blossom Special • bringing my baby back

well I'm going down to Florida and get some sand in my shoes
or maybe California and get some sand in my shoes
I'll ride that Orange Blossom Special and lose these New York blues

"Say man, when you going back to Florida?"
going back to Florida? I don't know...don't reckon I ever will...
"Ain't you worried about getting your nourishment in New York?"
...I don't care if I do-die-do-die-do-die...

hey talk about a-rambling : she's the fastest train on the line
talk about a-travelling : she's the fastest train on the line
it's the Orange Blossom Special • rolling down the seaboard line

For the following CHORD section, fullscreen/horizontal mobile is recommended.
Chords in brackets may be omitted.

E                                               E7
look yonder coming  coming down that railroad track
A                                               E
look yonder coming  coming down that railroad track
          B7                                       E
it's the Orange Blossom Special  bringing my baby back

Like most bluegrass music, the harmonies are simple. But the fiddling interlude, characteristic for the song, is rather tricky. In his famous 1965 cover, Johnny Cash dropped the fiddle and used harmonica/saxophone instead. Myself I yodle it ...
... thus I've never played this song on stage