Three Wheels On My Wagon

Album: The Definitive New Christy Minstrels (1964)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Burt Bacharach is not a name readily associated with novelty songs, but this number, co-written with Bob Hilliard, shows he was no fish out of water when it came to setting music to humorous ditties. The singer is a cowboy who is fleeing from pursuing Injuns with three wheels on his wagon, then two, then one, then when the final wheel breaks and he and his family are captured, he invites them to sing along with him. And they do!
  • This was originally recorded by Dick Van Dyke but the best known version was recorded by The New Christy Minstrels. The song opens to the strains of a banjo playing "Oh! Susanna" badly, and there are worried interjections by the narrator's wife and son which he dismisses angrily. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England, for above 2

Comments: 1

  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn January 14th 1964, the New Christy Minstrels performed at the White House in Washington, DC; Lyndon Johnson was President at the time, and the President of Italy, Antonio Segni, was a guest of LBJ...
    Between 1962 and 1965 the group had six Top 100 records, but "Three Wheels On My Wagon" was not one of them, it did not make the Top 100...
    Their two biggest hits were "Green, Green" {#14 in 1963} and "Today" {#17 in 1964}...
    At the time of the White House appearance Barry McGuire was a member of the group, and two years later in 1966 Kenny Rogers became a member.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Gary Brooker of Procol Harum

Gary Brooker of Procol HarumSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer and pianist for Procol Harum, Gary talks about finding the musical ideas to match the words.

Andy McClusky of OMD

Andy McClusky of OMDSongwriter Interviews

Known in America for the hit "If You Leave," OMD is a huge influence on modern electronic music.

Waiting For The Break of Day: Three Classic Songs About All-Nighters

Waiting For The Break of Day: Three Classic Songs About All-NightersSong Writing

These Three famous songs actually describe how they were written - late into the evening.

Donald Fagen

Donald FagenSongwriter Interviews

Fagen talks about how the Steely Dan songwriting strategy has changed over the years, and explains why you don't hear many covers of their songs.

Graham Nash

Graham NashSongwriter Interviews

Graham Nash tells the stories behind some of his famous songs and photos, and is asked about "yacht rock" for the first time.

Michael Sweet of Stryper

Michael Sweet of StryperSongwriter Interviews

Find out how God and glam metal go together from the Stryper frontman.