Most fans of the song don't really know it's origins, and it is quite interesting to find out there is actually a bit of controversy as the song was the Old Crow Medicine Show's signature song. Wagon Wheel” was originally written by Bob Dylan but never finished. The song was later completed by Old Crow Medicine Show‘s Ketch Secor, who wrote verses around Dylan’s original chorus and released the final product with his band in 2004. Though the song was originally released in 2004, Darius Rucker, set the wheels are turning to jettison the song to the top of the charts on Hot Country radio - with his hauntingly rich vocals, the tune is infectious.
The song paints the picture of a hitchhiking journey south along the eastern coast from New England through Roanoke, Virginia with the end destination of Raleigh, North Carolina, where the narrator hopes to rendezvous with his lover.
Rucker tells Radio.com, “When I heard ‘Wagon Wheel’ at my daughter’s high school talent contest, I don’t know what it was about the song, because I had heard the song before. When I heard it there I just thought, ‘Man some day I’m going to cut the song for a record.’ It was really one of those lightning bolt things that I can’t even explain.”
I recently performed the song at an open mic- singing the harmonies - the tune is amazingly infectious- for both performers and audience, with everyone singing along when the chorus comes around. You just can't help but sing along!!
So rock me mama like a wagon wheel
Rock me mama anyway you feel
Hey mama rock me
Rock me mama like the wind and the rain
Rock me mama like a south-bound train
Hey mama rock me
