ROCK ISLAND LINE
By Lonnie Donnegan (originally recorded by Leadbelly)
Spoken part:
(say this while strumming a D power chord throughout)
This here's the story 'bout the Rock Island Line
Now the Rock Island Line is a railroad line and it runs down inside of New Orleans
And just outside of New Orleans is a big toolgate
And all the trains that go through, they gotta pay the man some money
Unless, that is, they got certain things on board
Then it's okay, they can right on through, don't have to pay nothing
And right now we see a train that's coming on down the line
And when he reaches the tollgate, the depot agent wants to know what he's got on board
So he says: "WHAT YOU GOT ON BOARD THERE, BOY?!!"
So he says:
D
I got sheep, I got cows
I got horses, I got pigs
I got aaalll livestock
Spoken:
So the man say, why he say: "you can go right on through, you don't have to
Pay me nothing, just get on through"
Then we start picking up some steam
D Dsus4 D
The driver shout on down the line to the man
Course he don't get what you're saying now going home
On the Rock Island Line
But he say:
D
I fooled you, I fooled you
I got pig iron, I got pig iron
I got aaalll pig iron
"Keep on goin' boy"
Down the Rock Island Line, yes yes, she's a mighty good road
[ Tab from: https://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/d/donegan_lonnie/rock_island_line_crd.html ]
D A
Well the Rock Island Line, she's a mighty good road
D A
Rock Island Line, she's the road to ride
D
Yeah, the Rock Island Line, she's a mighty good road
G D
And if you want to ride it you gotta ride it like you find it
G A D
Get a ticket at the station on the Rock Island Line
Well I may be right, I may be wrong
I know you're gonna miss me when I'm gone
Well the Rock Island Line, she's a mighty good road
Rock Island Line, she's the road to ride
Yeah, the Rock Island Line, she's a mighty good road
And if you want to ride it you gotta ride it like you find it
Get a ticket at the station on the Rock Island Line
Well the Rock Island Line, she's a mighty good road
Rock Island Line, she's the road to ride
Yeah, the Rock Island Line, she's a mighty good road
And if you want to ride it you gotta ride it like you find it
Get a ticket at the station on the Rock Island Line
Well ABCWXYZ
The cat's in the cupboard but you don't see me
Well the Rock Island Line, she's a mighty good road
Rock Island Line, she's the road to ride
Yeah, the Rock Island Line, she's a mighty good road
And if you want to ride it you gotta ride it like you find it
Get a ticket at the station on the Rock Island Line
Well the good Lord's seen my sins
The good Lord's coming, gonna see me again
Well the Rock Island Line, she's a mighty good road
Rock Island Line, she's the road to ride
Yeah, the Rock Island Line, she's a mighty good road
And if you want to ride it you gotta ride it like you find it
Get a ticket at the station on the Rock Island Line
[sing very loud and insane like in this last verse]
Well the Rock Island Line, she's a mighty good road
Rock Island Line, she's the road to ride
Yeah, the Rock Island Line, she's a mighty good road
And if you want to ride it you gotta ride it like you find it
[last line is slower]
Get a ticket at the station on the Rock Island Line
Simple, eh?
