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 board when you go through the 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 said
I got livestock
I got livestock
I got cows
I got pigs
I got sheep
I got mules
I got all live stock
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 tollgate
And as he went through he started pickin' up a little bit of speed
Pickin' up a little bit of steam
He got on through he turned and looked back at the man he said
Well I fooled you
I fooled you
I got pigiron
I got pigiron
I got old pigiron
[Chorus]
Down the Rock Island Line she's a mighty good road
Rock Island Line it's the road to ride
Rock Island Line it's a mighty good road
Well if you ride it you got to ride it like you find it
Get your ticket at the station for the Rock Island Line
Looked cloudy in the west and it looked like rain
Round the curve came a passenger train
North bound train on a southbound track
He's alright a leavin' but he won't be back
[Chorus]
Oh 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 try
The conductor said what could they be
A hot cup of coffee and a cold glass of tea
[Chorus]
Country boy, ain't got no shoes.
Country boy, ain't got no blues.
Well, you work all day
While you're wantin' to play
In the sun and the sand,
With a face that's tan.
At the end of the day,
When your work is done,
You ain't got nothin' but fun.
Country boy, ain't got no ills.
Country boy, don't owe no bills.
Country boy, ain't got no ills.
Country boy, don't owe no bills.
You get a wiggly worm,
And then you watch him squirm.
While you put him on a hook,
And you drop him in a brook.
If everything's gonna turn out right,
You're gonna fry fish tonight.
Country boy, got a lot to lose.
Country boy, how I wish I was in your shoes.
[Instrumental break]
Country boy, you got a shaggy dog.
Country boy, up a holler log.
Well, he comes in a run,
When you pick up your gun.
And with a shell or two,
And your dog and you,
When you get your rabbit,
You'll skin his hide,
He's gonna be good fried.
Country boy, you got a lot to lose.
Country boy, how I wish I was in your shoes.
[Instrumental break]
Country boy, you got work to do.
Country boy, in the morning dew,
You gotta plant the seed,
You gotta cut the weeds.
There's many a row,
You know you gotta hoe
When it's quittin' time,
And your work is through.
There's a lot of life in you
Country boy, you lucky thing.
Country boy, I wish I was you, and you were me.
If the good Lord's willing and the creek stays down
I'll be in your arms time the moon come around
For a taste of love that's shining in your eyes
If the rooster crows at the crackin' of the dawn
I'll be there just as sure as you're born
If the good Lord's willing and the creeks don't rise
I'll comb my hair down brush my teeth
Shine up slick up dress up neat
Get everything looking just right
'Cause I want to look pretty when I see you tonight
Just as sure as the rabbits are a jumping in the hollow
I'll be there you can bet your bottom dollar
If the good Lord's willing and the creeks don't rise
If the good Lord's willing and the creek stays low
I'll be there a knockin' at your door
With a hug and a kiss for the one I idolize
I'll wear my suit, my Sunday best, I'll be there lookin' my best
If the good Lord's willing and the creeks don't rise
I'll feed the mules and stop the hogs feed the cows and chop all the logs
Get all of my working done cause tonight we're gonna have lots of fun
Just as sure as there ever was a preacher man
I'll be there with a ring for your hand
If the good Lord's willing and the creek don't rise
Everybody knows where you go when the sun goes down.
I think you only live to see the lights uptown.
I wasted my time when I would try, try, try.
'Cause when the lights have lost their glow, you'll cry, cry, cry.
Soon your sugar-daddies will all be gone.
You'll wake up some cold day and find you're alone.
You'll call for me but I'm gonna tell you: "Bye, bye, bye, "
When I turn around and walk away, you'll cry, cry, cry,
You're gonna cry, cry, cry and you'll cry alone,
When everyone's forgotten and you're left on your own.
You're gonna cry, cry, cry.
I lie awake at night to wait 'til you come in
You stay a little while and then you're gone again
Every question that I ask, I get a lie, lie, lie
For every lie you tell, you're gonna cry, cry, cry
When your fickle love gets old, no one will care for you.
Then you'll come back to me for a little love that's true.
I'll tell you no and then you'll ask me why, why, why?
When I remind you of all of this, you'll cry, cry, cry.
You're gonna cry, cry, cry and you'll want me then,
It'll hurt when you think of the fool you've been.
You're gonna cry, cry, cry.
When you're all alone and blue
No one to tell your troubles to
Remember me, I'm the one who loves you
When this world turns you down
Not a true friend can be found
Remember me, I'm the one who loves you
And through all kinds of weather
You'll find, I'll never change
Through the sunshine and the shadows
I'll always be the same
We're together right or wrong
Where you go I'll tag along
Remember me, I'm the one who loves you
And through all kinds of weather
You'll find, I'll never change
Through the sunshine and the shadows
I'll always be the same
We're together right or wrong
Where you go I'll tag along
Remember me, I'm the one who loves you
I do my best to hide this lowdown feelin'
I try to make believe there's nothin' wrong
But they're always askin' me about you darlin'
And it hurts me so to tell 'em that you're gone
If they ask me, I guess, I'd be denyin'
That I've been unhappy all alone
But if they heard my heart they'd hear it cryin'
Where's my darlin' when's she comin' home
I ask myself a million times what's right for me to do
To try to lose my blues alone or hang around for you
Well I make it pretty good until that moon comes shinin' through
And that I get so doggone lonesome
Time stands still when you're a waitin'
Sometimes I think my heart is stoppin' too
One lonely hour seems forever
Sixty minutes more to wait for you
But I guess I'll keep waitin' till you're with me
'Cause I believe that lovin' you is right
But I don't care if the sun don't rise tomorrow
If I can't have you with me tonight
Well I know, I'll keep on loving you 'cause true love can't be killed
I ought to get you off of my mind but I guess I never will
I could have a dozen others but I know, I'd love you still
'Cause I get so doggone lonesome
There are some people who say we cannot tell
Whether we are saved or whether all is well
They say we only can hope and trust that it is so
Well, I was there when it happened and so I guess I ought to know
Yes, I know when Jesus saved me, saved my soul
The very moment He forgave me, made me whole
He took away my heavy burdens
Lord, He gave me peace within, peace within
Satan can't make me doubt it, I won't doubt it
It's real and I'm gonna shout it, I'm gonna shout it
I was there when it happened
And so I guess I ought to know
I don't care who tells me salvation is not real
Though the world may argue, that we cannot feel
The heavy burden's lifted and the vile sins go
I was there when it happened and so I guess I ought to know
Yes, I know when Jesus saved me, saved my soul
The very moment He forgave me, made me whole
He took away my heavy burdens
Lord, He gave me peace within, peace within
Satan can't make me doubt it, I won't doubt it
It's real and I'm gonna shout it, I'm gonna shout it
I was there when it happened
And so I guess I ought to know