Now, this here's the story about the Rock Island line
Now, the Rock Island line is a railroad line
And [bad word] down into New Orleasn
And just outside of 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
Less of course, they got certain things on board
Then they okay, then they don't ever have to pay the man nothin'
And right now, we see a train [bad word]  on down the line
And when she got up here to the toll gate
The-a depot, he shout down to the driver
He want to know what he got on board
So he say a
What you got on board there, boy
And the driver, he sing right on back
Down to the depot agent
Tell him what he got on board
The got a way of singing

I got sheep, I got cows
I got horses, I got pigs
I got all livestock
I got all livestock
I got all livestock

And the man say, well, he say
Your alright there, boy
You don't have to pay me nothin'
Just get 'em on through
So the train go through the toll gate
And as it go through
It got up a little bit of steam
And a, a little bit of speed
And when he sees me
On the other side of the toll gate
They, the driver shout back
Down the line to the man
'Course you don't hear what he say now
But home down the Rock Island line

I fooled you, I fooled you
I got pig iron, I got pig iron
I got all pig iron

He said, tell you where I'm goin', boy
Goin' down the Rock Island line, yes, yes
She's a mighty good road
Oh well, the Rock Island line
She's a mighty good road
Rock Island line is the road to ride
Ya, the Rock Island line
Is 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
Well, I may be right
I may be wrong
I know you're gonna miss me when I'm gone

Ya,the Rock Island line
She's a mighty good road
Rock Island line is the road to ride
Ya, 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