Rock Island Line

Now, this here's the story about the Rock Island Line
Now, the Rock Island Line, she run down into New Orleans
And just outside of New Orleans, there's a big toll gate
And all the trains that go through the toll gate
Pardon me, pardon me just a moment, pardon me (Yeah?)
Are you going to sing the song or read it or what?
Well, I'm gonna sing it, but first, I always tell a
Little bit of the story behind the Rock Island Line
Sort of sketch in a little, a little background as it were
You are going to sing it?
Oh yeah, in just a second, I get to it
Well, let's get to it then, huh?
Okay, and all the trains that go through the toll gate
Why, they, they got to pay the man some money
But of course, if you got certain things on board, you're okay
You don't have to pay the man nothing, I mean
You're okay, you're okay with him, I mean
Alright, let's step right along here, let's snap it up
Okay, now, just now we see a train, she coming down the line
And when she comes up in the toll gate
The driver, he shouts down at the man and he say
"I got pigs, I got horses, I got cows"
Look, you can skip all of that
He didn't let me name all the animals
Yes, I know, but we don't need that
He didn't let me get to the sheep
Well, that doesn't make any difference
Well, it makes a difference to the sheep
Yes, I know, but let's get the train rhythm going here
And never mind the sheep
Okay, after the driver, he say
"I got all livestock, I got all livestock, I got all livestock"
The man say, "Well, you're alright, boy, you can go right through here
You don't have to pay me nothing, I mean, you know"
Look, fella, fella
I didn't mention the sheep
I know, but let's skip the recitation, huh?
Okay, but, uh
Let's get to the meat of it
Okay, I've come to the best part now, where the driver fool him
He fool him?
Yeah, he say "I fooled you, I fooled you"
Look, let's just sing the song, huh?
Well, you didn't let me get to the pig iron part
Just sing the song
It's the payoff to the, uh
I think you ought to let me tell how he
Fooled the toll gate man with the pig iron
Will you just sing the song, please?
I get a big reaction to it in clubs
And a lot of people waiting to see how the story come out
Will you just sing the song?
Well, you're going to disappoint them, that's all
I'll take the chance
Okay, here I go

Oh, the Rock Island Line is a mighty good road
Oh, the Rock Island
You sure you don't want the pig iron part?
Forget it, will you forget it?
Okay
Line is the line to ride
Oh, the Rock Island Line is a mighty good road
Well, if you want to ride it, got to ride it like you found it
Got your ticket at the station for the Rock Island Line
Look, Mumbles, hey, Mumbles, what is this?
Get your chicken at the station?
No, ticket, get your ticket at the station
Oh, get your ticket at the station
Gee whiz, uh, try not to interrupt me, huh?

A-B-C-W-X-Y-Z
The cat's in the cupboard, but he don't see me
Now, wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute
Oh, the Rock Island, is a mighty good
Wait a minute, the A-B-C-W-X-Y-Z, with the cat's in the cupboard
I, I, I, I don't know
What has the ABC got to do with the cat's in the cupboard?
Yeah, what's it got to do with it?
I know, is it a social significance of some kind?
No, no, no, it's just a traditional lyric
It's a traditional lyric?
I don't know, yeah
Well, well, thanks very much, that'll be fine
I got one more chorus
One more

Oh, the Rock Island Line is a mighty good road
Oh, the Rock Island Line is the road to ride
Oh, the Rock Island Line is a mighty good road
Well, if you want to ride it, got to ride it like you found it
Get your ticket at the station for the Rock Island Line

Is that it? That's the end?
Yeah, that's it
I just hope it sells without the pig iron part
Well, forget about the pig iron part
I'm just trying to sketch in a little background, that's all
Yes, I know, sketch in the background
You're gonna, you're gonna release the record?
No, I don't think so
Okay
Okay