Rock Island Line (re-recording) Songtext
von Johnny Cash

Now, this here′s a 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
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 pickin′ up a little bit of speed
Pickin' up a little bit of steam
He got on through, he turned, looked back at the man, he said
"Well, I fooled you, I fooled you
I got pig iron, I got pig iron
I got all pig iron"

Now, 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 ride, 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 looked like rain
'Round the curve come a passenger train
Northbound train on the southbound track
He′s all right a-leavin, but he won't be back


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 ride, you gotta ride it like you find it
Get your ticket at the station for the Rock Island Line

Well, 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
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 a 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 ride, you gotta ride it like you find it
Get your ticket at the station for the Rock Island Line