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Credits
PERFORMING ARTISTS
Johnny Cash
Vocals
Luther Perkins
Guitar
Marshall Grant
Bass
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Johnny Cash
Arranger (Traditional)
John Lomax
Arranger
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Sam Phillips
Producer
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
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 all 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 picking up a little bit of speed
Picking 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"
[Verse 2]
Down 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
[Verse 3]
Oh, cloudy in the west, and it looked like rain
'Round the curve come a passenger train
North-bound train on the south-bound track
He's all right a-leavin, but he won't be back
[Verse 4]
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
[Verse 5]
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
There were two more drinks that he'd like to have tried
The doctor said, "What could they be?"
"A hot cup of coffee and a cold glass of tea"
[Verse 6]
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
Written by: Johnny Cash