Peter Rudiak-Gould
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If Johnny Cash had been a beachcomber. This is his song “I've Been Everywhere” with new lyrics, rerecorded by me. Listen here.

Lyrics
 
Oh I was totin' my spear along the long Vanuatu shore
When along came a canoe like in the ancient days of yore
"If you're goin' to Fiji, man, with me you can sail"
So I climbed into the boat and started to bail
He asked me if I'd seen a place so beautific
And I said, "Listen! I've been everywhere in the Pacific!"
 
I've been to the South Seas, I've been to the South Seas
Listened to the trade breeze, Gone fishin' on the coral reefs
Sat wishin' under palm trees, I've been to the South Seas
 
I've been to Melanesia, Micronesia, Polynesia, all the 'nesias, Indonesia, where Oceania meets Asia
I've been to New Zealand, New Guinea, Wake Island, New Ireland, New Britain, New Caledonia, Marshall Islands
Solomon Islands, Phoenix Islands, Papua New Guinea highlands
 
I've been to the South Seas, I've been to the South Seas
Lived among the Marshallese, opened coconuts with ease
Eaten sweet pandanus keys, I've been to the South Seas
 
I've been to low atolls, raised atolls, almost atolls, Johnston atoll, makateas, volcanoes, continental fragments,
Coral reefs, rocky reefs, table reefs, patch reefs, fringing reefs, barrier reefs, shoals and taboo reefs
Backwaters, breakwaters, outer islands, urban centers, windward, leeward, that's the word
 
I've been to the South Seas, I've been to the South Seas
Paid my immigration fees, 'cause there ain't no other islands like these
You can follow me if you please, I've been to the South Seas
 
I've been to Hiva Oa, Nuku Hiva, Ua Huka, Fatu Hiva, Tahiti-Hawai'i-Kaua'i-Savai'i-Havaiki
Rarotonga, the other Tonga, Bora Bora, Nukuoro, Futuna, Erromango and Rotuma
Yap-Chuuk-Lau-Guam-Hau-Maug and the horribly named Line Islands
 
Actually it's not true, I've only been to a few
Places in this ocean blue, the Marshalls and Honolulu
But some day I intend to visit all the rest, too
 
I'd go to Pago Pago, Ponape, Pitcairn, Pingelap, Rongelap, if I could afforda
I'd go to Clipperton, Henderson, Palmyra, Palmerston, Palm Beach, wait, that's a town in Florida
The Chathams, the Trobriands, the Mortlocks, the Cooks, 'cause the ocean has no borders
 
I've been to the Marshalls, I've been to the Marshalls
I've always felt partial to them thar shoals
I spent a year in that harsh ol' paradise called the Marshalls
 
Including Majuro, Kwajalein, Bikini Atoll, where there are no bikinis at all
Mili, Kili, Ujae, Lae, Wotho, Wotje, Arno, Ebeye, Taka, Ebon, Bikar, and Ailingnae
Enemanot, Enelamoj, Enewetok, Enemakij, any way you want it
 
I've been to the South Seas, I've been to the South Seas
Listened to the trade breeze, gone fishin' on the coral reefs
Sat wishin' under palm trees, I've been to the South Seas


All content © Peter Rudiak-Gould 2016 except where otherwise stated