Hear that bell ringin'? Keeps me 'wake all night long Hear that bell ringin'? Keeps me 'wake all night long Ain't no time for sleepin', something's always goin' on wrong.
Folks keep yellin', "Rastus, pull the window down, please" Folks keep yellin', "Rastus, pull the window down, please" "With that snow a-fallin', somebody's surely going to freeze"
Mmmmmmm, Hear how that whistle blows Mmmmmmm, Hear how that whistle blows It's blowing like it don't have to blow no more
Shinin' shoes 'til morning, got no place to lay my head Shinin' shoes 'til morning, got no place to lay my head When I get through slavin', Lord, I'm almost dead.
Babies start cryin', then they take me to be a nurse Babies start cryin', then they take me to be a nurse I gets almost drownded, then what could be worse?
Poor railroad porter hates to leave his wife at home Poor railroad porter hates to leave his wife at home 'Cause she starts to cheatin' just as soon as he is gone.
Recorded with Walter Beasley on Okeh, 1927. "Rock Pile Blues" on B side.
The lyrics above, with the note "C position standard tuning," from- http://weeniecampbell.com/wiki/index.php?title=Railroad_Porter_Blues