Rock Island Line Song Lyrics and Chords by Johnny Cash
Rock Island Line
Written and Recorded by Johnny Cash
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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 tollgate down there
And you know if you got certain things on
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board
When you go through the
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tollgate
Well you don't have to pay the man no toll
Well a train driver he pulled up to the tollgate
And a 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
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all
live
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stock
Well he said you're all right boy you don't have to pay no toll
You can just go right on through so he went on through the tollgate
And as he went through he started pickin' up a little bit of speed
Pickin' up a
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little bit of steam
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He got on through he turned and looked back at the man he said
Well I fooled you I fooled you I got pig-iron
I got pig-iron I got
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all
pig-
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iron
Down the Rock Island Line she's a mighty good road
Rock Island Line it's a
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road to ride
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Rock Island Line it's a mighty good road
Well if you ride you got to ride it
Like you finally get your ticket
At the station for the
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Rock Island
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Line
Oh it's cloudy in the west and it looked like rain
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Round the curve come a
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passenger
train
North
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bound train on the southbound track
He's a
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lright a leavin' but
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he won't be
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back
Well the Rock Island Line she's a mighty good road
Rock Island Line it's a
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road to ride
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Rock Island Line it's a mighty good road
Well if you ride you
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got to ride
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it
like you finally get your ticket
At the station for the
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Rock Island
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Line
Oh I may be right and I may be wrong
But
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you gonna miss me
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when I'm gone
Well the engineer said before he died
That there were two more drinks
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that he'd like to
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try
The
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conductor said what could they be
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hot cup of coffee and a
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cold glass of
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tea
Well the Rock Island Line she's a mighty good road
Rock Island Line it's a
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road to ride
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Rock Island Line it's a mighty good road
Well if you ride you
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got to ride
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it
like you finally get your ticket
At the station for the
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Rock Island
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Line
FAQ
Who sang the the song Rock Island Line?
- The song Rock Island Line was sang by Johnny Cash.
Who is Johnny Cash?
- John R. Cash (born J. R. Cash February 26, 1932 - September 12, 2003) was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Much of Cash's music contained themes of sorrow, moral tribulation, and redemption, especially in the later stages of his career. He was known for his deep, calm bass-baritone voice, the distinctive sound of his Tennessee Three backing band characterized by train-like chugging guitar rhythms, a rebelliousness coupled with an increasingly somber and humble demeanor, free prison concerts, and a trademark all-black stage wardrobe which earned him the nickname "The Man in Black".Born to poor cotton farmers in Kingsland, Arkansas, Cash rose to fame in the burgeoning rockabilly scene in Memphis, Tennessee, after four years in the Air Force. He traditionally began his concerts by simply introducing himself, "Hello, I'm Johnny Cash", followed by "Folsom Prison Blues", one of his signature songs. Alongside "Folsom Prison Blues", his other signature songs include "I Walk the Line", "Ring of Fire", "Get Rhythm", and "Man in Black". He also recorded humorous numbers like "One Piece at a Time" and "A Boy Named Sue", a duet with his future wife June called "Jackson" (followed by many further duets after their wedding), and railroad songs such as "Hey, Porter", "Orange Blossom Special", and "Rock Island Line". During the last stage of his career, he covered songs by contemporary rock artists of the time his most notable covers were "Hurt" by Nine Inch Nails, "Rusty Cage" by Soundgarden and, "Personal Jesus" by Depeche Mode.
Cash is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, having sold more than 90 million records worldwide. His genre-spanning music embraced country, rock and roll, rockabilly, blues, folk, and gospel sounds. This crossover appeal earned him the rare honor of being inducted into the Country Music, Rock and Roll, and Gospel Music Halls of Fame.
