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

Did They Really Sing In That Movie?

Did They Really Sing In That Movie?Fact or Fiction

Bradley Cooper, Michael J. Fox, Rami Malek, Reese Witherspoon, Gwyneth Paltrow and George Clooney: Which actors really sang in their movies?

Jackie DeShannon - "Put a Little Love in Your Heart"

Jackie DeShannon - "Put a Little Love in Your Heart"They're Playing My Song

It wasn't her biggest hit as a songwriter (that would be "Bette Davis Eyes"), but "Put a Little Love in Your Heart" had a family connection for Jackie.

James Williamson of Iggy & the Stooges

James Williamson of Iggy & the StoogesSongwriter Interviews

The Stooges guitarist (and producer of the Kill City album) talks about those early recordings and what really happened with David Bowie.

Tanita Tikaram

Tanita TikaramSongwriter Interviews

When she released her first album in 1988, Tanita became a UK singing sensation at age 19. She talks about her darkly sensual voice and quirky songwriting style.

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside Story

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside StorySong Writing

The in-depth discussion about the making of Jesus Christ Superstar with Ted Neeley, who played Jesus in the 1973 film.

Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, Heaven And Hell

Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, Heaven And HellSongwriter Interviews

Guitarist Tony Iommi on the "Iron Man" riff, the definitive Black Sabbath song, and how Ozzy and Dio compared as songwriters.