Wagon Wheel
Wagon Wheel by Old Crow Medicine Show is 75 BPM — Adagio (slow).
Half-time 38 BPM · Double-time 150 BPM · released 2004
Song DNA
An easygoing, settled feel. It has a moderate quiet-to-loud range with the occasional gentle turn, over a layered texture. Gentle vocals riding over it, at an unhurried mid-tempo. It’s easy enough to follow without going flat. Against the 19,209 songs we’ve measured, it sits more energetic than 22% of songs, calmer than the rest.
Cultural Context
Wagon Wheel is rooted in American folk music, often associated with storytelling and communal experiences. Its catchy melody makes it a favorite for sing-alongs.
Listening Prompt
Join in the fun and feel the rhythm of the journey.
What to Expect
The song begins with a simple acoustic guitar strumming, setting an upbeat tone. As the chorus arrives, the instrumentation swells with harmonies, creating a sense of community. The song maintains its joyful spirit throughout, wrapping up on a high note.
Hear it the way it was made
The right gear changes everything.
Moods: joyful
Traditions: folk
"Wagon Wheel" by Old Crow Medicine Show
75 BPM, dynamic range 5/10, layered texture, soft vocals. Sits in the middle band — neither built for stillness nor pitched at workout intensity. Whether it works for a given moment depends more on mood and lyrical content than on the acoustic profile. The full sensory breakdown follows.
How this song sits on each sensory axis
A dynamic range of 5/10 is within the normal pop-mix band. There is variation between verse and chorus, but it's the kind of variation most listeners encounter routinely.
Sudden changes: mild. There are one or two transitions worth knowing about, though they're musically resolved rather than surprise-driven.
Texture is layered — a full arrangement with clear separation between parts.
Predictability is medium — conventional structure overall, with one or two moments that deviate from what you'd expect.
Vocal style: soft vocals.
2004 context
Released in 2004. We have 334 songs from that year in our library, averaging a dynamic range of 6.4/10. This track is quieter / less dynamic than the year average. Explore more from the 2000s.
Explore by mood and tradition
Guides that may help
How fast is "Wagon Wheel"?
75 BPM — Slow (downtempo / ballad)
Too slow for most running; good for warm-up walks or cool-down.
Warm-up, cool-down, yoga, stretching.
Sleep, meditation, reading, focus work.
Browse more songs at 75 BPM.
When "Wagon Wheel" works, and when it doesn't
Use-case verdicts computed from the song's tempo, dynamics, and sensory profile.
Maybe — fine for routine work, but the mid-song changes may pull attention during deep focus.
No — 75 BPM is too slow for sustained cardio.
No — contains elements that will keep an awake nervous system engaged.
Yes — predictable enough for safe driving attention, interesting enough to stay engaged.
Yes — sits in the background without demanding attention.
Not really — it's pleasant but doesn't hit hard enough for cathartic listening.
Related reading
Editorial guides that cover this song's use cases, moods, or artist.
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Why this rating
We rate this song Moderate because it falls between our Safe and Intense thresholds on at least one dimension. Moderate is the default for most well-produced music that has real arc but no surprise elements. Full rubric: methodology.
See how “Wagon Wheel” sits against your own sensitivities, or use it as a waypoint in a calmer set.
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Rating last reviewed: 2026-04-03. Reviewed by the Music I Want editorial team against the documented methodology.
Think this rating is wrong? Contact the editor — every message is read and ratings get revised.
By the numbers: how this song compares
Computed from this song’s place among the 19,209 songs we’ve measured.
Where it sits in 19,000 songs
On our 19k-song scale this lands in the middle band — more energetic than 22% of songs, calmer than the other 78%. Its intensity reading of 33/100 comes from a dynamic range of 5/10, layered texture, mild shifts, and soft vocals. Relatively few songs occupy this exact corner of the spectrum.
What makes it unusual
What stands out most about this song is an unusually steady, even volume: more extreme on that axis than 88% of everything we've measured. At the far opposite end of the library sit the songs built on full chaos — sudden changes, huge quiet-to-loud swings, and relentless energy — the kind of track this one is the counterpoint to.
Feels almost identical to
Closest matches by feel across all 19,209 measured songs — not by genre or artist, by how they actually move.
What it’s good for
Scored from this song’s tempo, intensity, dynamics and texture — not crowd votes.
2004 in context
The 334 songs we’ve measured from 2004 average a dynamic range of 6.4/10. At 5/10, this track is gentler and steadier than its year.
Mixes smoothly with
Within a few BPM and close in feel — they flow without a jarring transition.
The fingerprint
The 8-dimension measurement behind every rating on this page.
Frequently asked about "Wagon Wheel"
Quick answers pulled from the song's sensory analysis.
What is the BPM of "Wagon Wheel" by Old Crow Medicine Show?
"Wagon Wheel" by Old Crow Medicine Show has a tempo of 75 BPM (Adagio (slow)). At half-time that is 38 BPM, and at double-time 150 BPM.
What is the sensory intensity of "Wagon Wheel" by Old Crow Medicine Show?
"Wagon Wheel" by Old Crow Medicine Show rates as Moderate intensity. Dynamic range 5/10, mild sudden changes, layered texture. Moderate is the default for well-produced music with real arc but no surprise elements.
How loud is "Wagon Wheel" — what is its dynamic range?
"Wagon Wheel" has a dynamic range of 5/10. Within normal pop-mix variation. Movement between verse and chorus but nothing dramatic.
Does "Wagon Wheel" have sudden or surprising changes?
"Wagon Wheel" has mild sudden changes — one or two transitions worth knowing about, but they are musically resolved rather than surprise-driven.
What is "Wagon Wheel" best for?
In our library "Wagon Wheel" is recommended for: celebration. These tags are assigned only where the song's sensory profile genuinely supports the use case.
When was "Wagon Wheel" released?
"Wagon Wheel" is from 2004, on the album "O.C.M.S.". It appears in our 2000s catalog.
What is the emotional mood of "Wagon Wheel"?
We tag "Wagon Wheel" as joyful. Moods are tonal descriptors based on how the song reads emotionally — separate from the sensory intensity axes.
What is the vocal style of "Wagon Wheel"?
The vocal style is soft vocals.
Is "Wagon Wheel" good for running?
Not really — at 75 BPM it's below most running cadences. Better for warm-up, cool-down, or walking. Recreational runners typically step at 140-175 BPM.
Is "Wagon Wheel" good for studying?
Only partially. The song's dynamic range (5/10) means there will be loud moments that break focus during deep work.
Can I use "Wagon Wheel" for sleep?
Not recommended for sleep. Contains transitions that will wake you up.
Should I listen to "Wagon Wheel"?
"Wagon Wheel" is Moderate intensity — fine for most listeners, but with enough dynamic activity that it works best as active listening rather than background.
Songs with the same DNA
layered texture, similar intensity — across any genre or era.
Safer alternatives with a similar feel
These songs share similar moods but with a gentler sensory profile.
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