Rock Island Line lyrics

[Spoken]

Now this here's the story about the Rock Island Line

Now, the Rock Island Line's a railroad line, and it runs down into New Orleans

And just outside of New Orleans is a big tollgate

And all the trains that go through the tollgate, why

They gotta pay the man some money

Unless of course, they've got certain things on board

Then they're okay and they don't ever have to pay nothing

And right now we see a train, she's coming on down the line

And when she gets up there to the tollgate

The depot agent, he shouts down to the driver

He wants to know what he's got on board

So he says, "What you got on board there, boy?"

And the driver, he says right on back down to the depot agent, he tells him what he's got on board:

[Sung]

"I got sheep, I got cows

I got horses, I got pigs

I got all livestock, I got all livestock

I got all livestock"

[Spoken]

And the man said, well, he says,

"You're alright then, boy, you don't have to pay me nothing

Just get 'em on through"

So the train goes through the tollgate, and as it goes through

It gathers up a little bit of steam

And a little bit of speed

And when he's safely on the other side of the tollgate

The driver shouts back down the line to the man

Of course, he doesn't care what he says now, he's going home, he's going down the Rock Island Line

[Sung]

He says, "Well, I fooled you, I fooled you

I got pig iron, I got pig iron

I got all pig iron"

[Spoken]

He says, "Tell you where I'm going, boy

Going down the Rock Island Line, yes, yes

She's a mighty good road"

[Sung]

[CHORUS]

Oh, well, the Rock Island Line, she's a mighty good road

The Rock Island Line is the road to ride

Yeah, the Rock Island Line, she's a mighty good road

And if you want to ride, you gotta ride it like you find it

Get your ticket at the station on the Rock Island Line

Well, I may be right, I may be wrong

I know you're gonna miss me when I'm gone

[CHORUS]

A-B-C, W-X-Y-Z,

The cat's in the cupboard, but he don't see me

[CHORUS]

Hallelujah, I'm saved from sin

The good Lord's coming for to see me again

[CHORUS x2]

• Artist:Lonnie Donegan