"On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe" is apopularsong written byHarry Warren with lyrics byJohnny Mercer.[1] The song was published in 1944, spanned the hit chart in mid-1945, and won the 1946Academy Award for Best Original Song,[1] the first win for Mercer.[2]
The song refers to the famouseponymous fallen flag railroad, and was featured in the1946Western film,The Harvey Girls (about the famous19th century nation-wide railroad lines of chainrestaurants ofHarvey Houses, established by entrepreneurFred Harvey). It was sung byJudy Garland, with support from cast actorsBen Carter,Marjorie Main,Virginia O'Brien,Ray Bolger, and theMGM Studios Chorus.[1]
At one point in mid-1945, versions by Mercer,Bing Crosby, and theTommy Dorsey Orchestra were on the hit chart simultaneously. In late September, the Crosby version, first to make the chart, was joined by one byJudy Garland and theMerry Macs close-harmony back-up group (1920s to 2000).
Mercer said that the lyrics came to him when he was sitting on aUnion Pacific Railroad 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 poetic lyrics of the song written by Johnny Mercer, the A.T.& S.F. never directly reached north toLaramie, Wyoming (actually served by the transcontinental line of theUnion Pacific Railroad) or toPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania (served in reality by theReading Company,Pennsylvania Railroad orBaltimore & Ohio Railroad lines in theEast).
