All aboard, track seventeen - all aboard
Yee-ha

This song is dedicated to all the hardworking pioneers of this country
Settin' out discoverin the West
Bringing the railroad to where no man has ever been before

Johnny, he worked on the railroad - pounding on iron and steel
Working his way out west now - the only sure thing's his next meal
America was young, but she was a-growing
Layin' tracks across the prairie not knowing where they're goin'
His momma didn't want him leaving, but now he's headin' out west
She said "Please don't go" but he said "If I don't I'll never rest"
It wasn't always easy, some of the boys died
Johnny wrote her letters but he received no replies

Johnny, he worked on the railroad - pounding on iron and steel
Working his way out west now - the only sure thing's his next meal

Johnny reached San Francisco tired and broke without a dime
Started panning for gold just a-hoping he would find
The gold wasn't [bad word] , but Johnny kept on minin'
Trying to send his momma somethin' with the letters he was signin'
And one day Johnny finally got a reply
When he opened Momma's letter, he began to cry
She's a-writing from her deathbed and this is what she said:
"Please don't be mad at me, son, cause tomorrow I'll be dead"

Johnny, he worked on the railroad - pounding on iron and steel
Working his way out west now - the only sure thing's his next meal

Ah-ha!
Ah-ha!
Ha!