ROCK ISLAND LINE
As recorded by Chris Barber's Jazz Band with vocalist Lonnie Donegan, released 1955.

[SPOKEN] Now this here's the story about the Rock Island Line.
The Rock Island Line she runs down into New Orleans,
And just outside o' New Orleans is a big toll gate,
And all the trains that go through the toll gate
Why, they gotta pay the man some money.
But of course, if you got certain things on board,
You're okay; you don't have to pay the man nothin'.
And just now we see a train, she comin' down the line,
and when she come up near the toll gate,
The driver, he shout down to the man, he say:

[SUNG] I got pigs. I got horses. I got cows. I got sheep,
I got all livestock. I got all livestock.
I got all livestock.

[SPOKEN] And the man say, well, you alright boy.
Just get on through. You don't have to pay me nothin'.
And the train go through,
And when he go through the tollgate,
The train get up a little bit of steam,
And a little bit of speed,
And when the driver think he safely on the other side,
He shout back down the line to the man. He said:

[SUNG] I fooled you. I fooled you.
I got pig iron. I got pig iron.
I got all pig iron.

[SPOKEN] Now I'll tell you where I'm goin', boy.

[THE REMAINDER IS SUNG]

CHORUS: Down the Rock Island Line, she's a mighty good road.
The Rock Island Line is the road to ride.
Yes, the Rock Island Line, she's a mighty good road,
And if you want to ride, you gotta ride it like you find it.
Get your ticket at the station on the Rock Island Line.

I may be right. I may be wrong.
You know you're gonna miss me when I'm gone.

CHORUS

Hallelujah, I'm safe from sin.
The good Lord's comin' for to see me again.

CHORUS

A, B, C, W, X, Y, Z.
The cat's under cover but he don't see me.

CHORUS AND REPEAT