Rock Island Line

John A. Lomax / Lead Belly

Now this here is the story about the Rock Island Line
Well, the Rock Island Line she runs down into New Orleans
There's a big toll-gate down there
And you know when you got certain things on board

When you go through the toll-gate
Well, you don't have to pay the man no toll
Well, a traindriver, he pulled up to the toll-gate
And the man hollered nicely what all he had on board

And he said
I got live stock, I got live stock
I got cows, I got pigs, I got sheep
I got mules, I got all live stock
Well, they said, you're all right boy

You don't have to pay no toll
You just go right on through
So, he went on through the toll-gate
And as he went through

He started pickin' up a little bit of speed
Pickin' up a little bit of steam
He got on through and he turned to look back at the man
And he said

Well, I fooled you, I fooled you
I got pig iron, I got pig iron
I got all pig iron
Down the Rock Island Line, she's a might good road
Rock Island Line it's the road to ride
Rock Island Line is a mighty good road

Well if you ride it you gotta ride it like you find it
Get your ticket at the station for the Rock Island Line
Oh, cloudy in the west and it looks like rain

Around the curve comes a passenger train
Northbound train on a southbound track
He's already leaving, but he won't be back
Well the Rock Island Line, she's a might good road

Rock Island Line it's the road to ride
Rock Island Line is a mighty good road
Well if you ride it you gotta ride it like you find it
Get your ticket at the station for the Rock Island Line

Oh, I may be right and I may be wrong
But you're gonna miss me when I'm gone
Well the engineer said before he died
There are two more drinks that he'd like to try

The doctor said, what could they be
A hot cup of coffee and a cold glass of tea
Well the Rock Island Line, she's a might good road

Rock Island Line it's the road to ride
Rock Island Line is a mighty good road
Well if you ride it you gotta ride it like you find it
Get your ticket at the station for the Rock Island Line

Trivia about the song Rock Island Line by Johnny Cash

On which albums was the song “Rock Island Line” released by Johnny Cash?
Johnny Cash released the song on the albums “With His Hot And Blue Guitar” in 1957, “The Man In Black - 22 Greatest Hits” in 1996, “Definitive Collection: The Very Best Of Johnny Cash - 2 CD's” in 2000, “Legend” in 2005, and “Johnny Cash Remixed” in 2009.
Who composed the song “Rock Island Line” by Johnny Cash?
The song “Rock Island Line” by Johnny Cash was composed by John A. Lomax and Lead Belly.

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