All About the “Chattanooga Choo Choo”

The train, now a museum piece, that inspired the song.

Many people listening to the song “Chattanooga Choo Choo” will find themselves tapping their feet to the catchy tune. Its ingenious music conveys the sound of a train’s whistle and the momentum of a train’s wheels. The song is a trademark of the 1940s, and one of Glenn Miller’s most famous numbers. In fact, it is so large a part of Americana, that the mere mention of “Chattanooga” instantly brings to mind the tune before anything else.

Movie poster for Sun Valley Serenade

The song was written for the 1941 film Sun Valley Serenade starring Sonja Henie, and recorded by the Glenn Miller Orchestra on May 7, 1941. The lyrics were penned by Mack Gordon, and the music by Harry Warren while they were aboard a train. It quickly became a chart-topper and a smash hit, selling 1.2 million copies within weeks, and claiming the distinction of serving as the no. 1 song across the U.S.  Also, it became the first song to receive a Gold Record (1942), and Miller’s rendition was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame (1996). Although the most familiar version is Miller’s (accompanied by vocalists Tex Beneke, Paula Kelly, and the Modernaires), other 1940s versions include those recorded by the Andrews Sisters, Cab Calloway, Carmen Miranda, and Johnny Long’s Orchestra. Later versions were sung by Ray Charles and Harry Connick, Jr.  Recently the song has been labeled racist, since some believe the opening line (“Pardon me, boy”) refers to an African-American. Such critics seem to ignore the fact that during the 1940s, all shoeshine boys were often referred to as “boy”.

Glenn Miller receives the first Gold Record

The story behind the song is unique. Chattanooga, founded in 1836, is a railroad town in Tennessee. “Without Glenn Miller and his song, would we even be on the map right now?” mused author and train enthusiast Justin Strickland. “I don’t think we would”(Chattanooga Times Free Press). The Glenn Miller Orchestra’s version of the song certainly directed a helpful flow of tourism to the area. Some local businessmen took advantage of the song’s popularity, spending four million dollars to save Chattanooga’s Terminal Station. The grand opening of the station in April 1973 revealed a vacation complex with a hotel, restaurants, and music venues. Today, the terminal offers visitors the experience of spending the night in a sleeper car, riding an electric trolley, and dining in a train station—none of which would have been possible without the song. Regarding the train, an old-fashioned steam locomotive inspired the song; it had been named the “Chattanooga Choo Choo” by a reporter, and is now a museum piece.

The song’s title even found its way into plane art.

It is said that “Operation Chattanooga Choo Choo” is the most famous codename of World War II. The mission: Bomb German railroads.

One thing often overlooked is the part the song “Chattanooga Choo Choo” played in the morale of U.S. soldiers during World War II. Though written pre-war, it conveys the excitement of a soldier returning home by train to his sweetheart. After the war began, the U.S. made railways a foremost form of transportation for troops and supplies, giving added meaning to the song. “Chattanooga Choo Choo” was recorded and distributed to G.I.s on Victory Discs. Especially popular with the soldiers, soon military vehicles were being named for the song (a popular practice of the day). In 1944, the Allies even conducted an “Operation Chattanooga Choo Choo”, bombing German railroads. Later however, the song’s popularity would have a more positive effect for the Germans; they composed similar songs about trains, incorporating the opening words “Pardon me.”

There are countless reasons why the song will always remain iconic. Most of all, it is recognizable of the era, symbolizing the confidence of the time in both tone and tune.

Photograph Credits- TRAIN: Wikipedia; SUN VALLEY SERENADE: The Movie Database; MILLER: camdencourier.com.au; PLANE: b24bestweb; OPERATION CHATTANOOAGA CHOO CHOO: defenceforumindia.