Who Did Going Up the Country First Before Canned Heat?

Canned Heat had a smash hit with their 1968 song ‘Going Up the Country.’ Few know that their song was actually a reprocessed version of a much earlier blues song by Henry Thomas, aka “Texas Ragtime” called Bull Doze Blues, recorded in 1928. Although the melody line and lyrics of the song are not all that unique, what makes it different is the lilting and somewhat happy feel coupled with the dark subject matter. What seems like an unusual instrument features heavily: the quills or panpipes, which the Canned Heat Version reproduced with a flute.

Going Up the Country: The Original

• The Origin: While often called a Canned Heat original, it is almost a note-for-note reconstruction of “Bull Doze Blues,” recorded in 1928 by Henry Thomas.
• The “Quills”: The signature flute melody was originally played by Thomas on the quills—a traditional African American panpipe instrument made of cane.
• The Lyric Shift: Canned Heat turned the dark “Bull Doze” lyrics (referring to 19th-century physical intimidation) into a “back to nature” anthem for the Woodstock generation.
• The Legacy: It became the unofficial theme song of the Woodstock festival, perfectly capturing the era’s desire to escape the city for the “country.”

It is often claimed that the Canned Heat version is based on Bull Doze Blues. This is unfair to Henry Thomas as Going Up the Country should be considered a remake, with the lyrics changed to reflect a modern slant. In this case, the subject was the ‘back to nature’ movement of the 1960s.

First, how did panpipes end up in a blues song? While we tend to think of the black blues musician as a lone figure with an old guitar, many other instruments were traditional in African American music, including drums, gourd rattles, banjos, marimbas, and quills, not to mention foot-stamping, clapping, etc.

Me and Bobby McGee: The Road to Janis: Most people associate this song with Janis Joplin’s posthumous #1 hit, but it was actually written by Kris Kristofferson and first recorded by Roger Miller. Before Janis gave it her signature grit, it was a country-flavored travelogue that had been covered by several artists, including Kenny Rogers.

Read the Full History: Me and Bobby McGee

Bull Doze Blues

The lyrics of Bull Doze Blues use an idiom that is still used today but not as widely heard.

I’m going back to Memphis, Tennessee
I’m going where I never get bull-dozed

“I’m going where I never get bull-dozed.” To bull doze someone was to force them to do something, usually by whipping or flogging. During the late 1800s, if a black man refused to do something, such as to vote democrat, he would be taken to the woods and beat almost to death with a whip. Bull doze is derived from a Southern word meaning whip or cowhide.

Jet Airliner: The Blues Original: Before the Steve Miller Band turned this into a 1977 radio staple, it was a gritty blues-rock track by Paul Pena. Recorded in 1973, Pena’s original version sat unreleased for years due to a label dispute, even as Miller’s cover was climbing the charts.

Read the Full Investigation: Jet Airliner

Henry Thomas did not start recording until he was in his fifties when he made 24 recordings for Vocalion records. These included not only blues, but ragtime, gospel, and minstrel tunes. He influenced many besides Canned Heat, like Dylan, The Lovin Spoonful, and Grateful Dead. His song Fishing Blues is perhaps more famous. It was covered by The Lovin Spoonful in 1965 and included on their debut album, Do You Believe in Magic.

From Brutal Blues to Woodstock Anthem

The brilliance of Canned Heat’s adaptation lies in how they stripped away the menace of the original. In Henry Thomas’s Bull Doze Blues, the singer is fleeing physical violence and political oppression. When Alan Wilson wrote the new lyrics in 1968, he kept the “leaving” theme but changed the destination.

Instead of running from something, the 1960s version is about running to something, the idealized rural landscape of the counterculture movement. By changing the focus to “going where the water tastes like wine,” Canned Heat transformed a survival song into a celebration of freedom. It’s no wonder it became the unofficial theme of Woodstock; it perfectly captured the desire of half a million people to leave the “bull-dozing” city behind for a few days of peace in the country.

While the thematic shift from “Bull Doze Blues” to a counterculture anthem was a lyrical stroke of genius, the sonic success of the track relied on a meticulous studio translation of Henry Thomas’s primitive style. By replacing the 1920s panpipes with a modern, breathy flute and leaning into a bright, rhythmic “boogie” shuffle, Canned Heat created a high-fidelity bridge between the Mississippi Delta and the Woodstock stage.

Going Up the Country: Session & Technical Notes

• Studio & Location: Recorded at Liberty Studios, Hollywood, California, 1968.
• The Signal Chain:
  • The Flute: Played by legendary session man Jim Horn, the flute was tracked with a slight room reverb to mimic the airy, natural sound of Henry Thomas’s original “quills.”
  • Guitars: Alan Wilson and Henry Vestine utilized Fender Stratocasters through Fender Dual Showman amplifiers to get that clean, biting tone that defines the 1960s blues-rock revival.
  • Vocals: Alan Wilson’s distinctively high, “Blind Owl” falsetto was captured using a Neumann U47, emphasizing the clarity and “innocence” of the new lyrics.
• Personnel: Produced by Skip Taylor and Canned Heat; featuring Jim Horn (flute), Alan Wilson (vocals/guitar), and Henry Vestine (lead guitar).
• Interesting Fact: The song is famous for its locked-in rhythm, but the recording session was actually quite loose. To get the perfect “gallop,” the band recorded the rhythm tracks live in the studio, with the flute parts overdubbed later to ensure the melody line sat perfectly on top of the “thumping” bassline provided by Larry Taylor.

🕵️ Frequently Asked Questions: Going Up the Country

Is “Going Up the Country” a cover song? Technically, it is a “reworking.” While the melody and flute/quill riffs are nearly identical to Henry Thomas’s 1928 recording, the lyrics were rewritten by Alan “Blind Owl” Wilson to fit the 1960s “back-to-the-land” movement.

What are the “quills” heard in the original version? The quills are an early African American wind instrument made of cane or reeds, similar to panpipes. Henry Thomas was one of the few musicians ever recorded playing them in a blues context.

Who played the flute on the Canned Heat version? The famous flute part was played by Jim Horn, a legendary session musician who also worked with The Beach Boys, Frank Sinatra, and The Beatles.

Why is it called the “unofficial theme of Woodstock”? The song was used prominently in the 1970 Woodstock documentary during the opening sequence showing crowds arriving at the festival. Its “happy” vibe and country-focused lyrics made it the perfect sonic backdrop for the event.

📊 Quick Facts: Going Up the Country

• First Recorded By: Henry Thomas (1928, as “Bull Doze Blues”)
• Most Famous Version: Canned Heat (1968) from the album Living the Blues)
• Songwriter: Alan Wilson (credited for the adaptation), Henry Thomas (original)
• The Signature Sound: The 1968 flute part was played by Jim Horn, mimicking Henry Thomas’s original panpipe (or quills) arrangement .
• Cultural Impact: Became a top-ten hit in several countries and remains a definitive anthem of the 1960s counterculture.
• Chart Position: #11 on the Billboard Hot 100.

📚 Further Reading

• Always on My Mind: Before Willie Nelson
• The Many Versions of Try a Little Tenderness
• Please Come to Boston: Who Did It First?
• Roger Miller’s Original Me and Bobby McGee
• Paul Pena: The Man Behind Jet Airliner