Now this here's 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