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, y' know, if 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, the train driver, he pulled up to the toll gate

and The man hollered and asked him what all he had on board, and he said

I got livestock, I got livestock

I got cows, I got pigs, I got sheep, I got mules, I got all livestock

Well, he said, you're alright, boy

You don't have to pay no toll

You can just go right on through

So, he went on through the toll gate, and as he went through

He started picking up a little bit of speed

Picking up a little bit of steam

He got on through he turned a look back to the man, 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 mighty good road

The Rock Island Line, it's a road to ride

The Rock Island Line, it's a mighty good road

Well, if you could ride you gotta ride like you find it

Get your ticket at the station called the Rock Island Line



It was cloudy in the west, and it looked like rain,

round the curve come-a passenger train.

North-bound train on the south-bound track,

You were all right a-leavin but he won't be back



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

The Rock Island Line, it's a road to ride

The Rock Island Line, it's a mighty good road

Well, if you could ride you gotta ride like you find it

Get your ticket at the station of the Rock Island Line



well I may be right and I may be wrong

But you're gotta miss me when I'm gone



Well, the engineer said before he died,

that There were two more drinks that he'd like to try,

The doctor said “what could they be”

“a hot cup of coffee and cold glass of tea”



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

Rock Island Line, it's a road to ride

Rock Island Line, it's a mighty good road

Well, if you could ride you gotta ride like you find it

Get your ticket at the station called the Rock Island Line