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On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe

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"On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe" is a popular song written by Harry Warren with lyrics by Johnny Mercer.[1] The song was published in 1944, spanned the hit chart in mid-1945, and won the 1946 Academy Award for Best Original Song,[1] the first win for Mercer.[2]

The song refers to the eponymous fallen flag railroad, and was featured in the 1946 film, The Harvey Girls, where it was sung by Judy Garland, with support from Ben Carter, Marjorie Main, Virginia O'Brien, Ray Bolger, and the MGM Chorus.[1]

At one point in mid-1945, versions by Mercer, Bing Crosby, and the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra were on the hit chart simultaneously. In late September, the Crosby version, first to make the chart, was joined by one by Judy Garland and the Merry Macs.

Mercer said that the lyrics came to him when he was sitting on a Union Pacific train and saw another train labeled "Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe'", and he was struck by the rhythm of the words.[2][3] Despite mentions in the lyrics of the song, the AT&SF never directly reached Laramie, Wyoming (Union Pacific Railroad) or Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Reading Company, Pennsylvania Railroad or Baltimore & Ohio).

Recorded versions

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Other uses

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 134. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  2. ^ a b "Pop Chronicles 1940s Program #1". 1972.
  3. ^ a b "Music USA #7881-A, Interview with Johnny Mercer". July 28, 1976.
  4. ^ a b c d Whitburn, Joel (1973). Top Pop Records 1940-1955. Record Research.
  5. ^ "A Bing Crosby Discography". BING magazine. International Club Crosby. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
  6. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "August 8, 1987 - Opening Ceremonies for the 10th Pan American Games at Indianapolis". YouTube. October 29, 2020.