(Huddie Ledbetter)







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