Oh this here's the story about the Rock Island Line
Well the Rock Island Line you know it runs down from the quad cities all the way down to New Orleans
There's a big ole' toll gate down there you know
And if you got certain things on board when you go through the toll gate
You don't have to pay the toll
Well you know a train driver he pulled up to the toll gate
And the man hollered and asked him and said, "What you got on board?"

I got livestock, I got livestock
I got cows, I got pigs, I got sheep, I got mules
I got livestock

He said "Boy, you ain't gotta pay no toll
You can just go right on through right through the toll"
And as he went through he started pickin' up a little bit of speed
A little more steam
Then he got on through he turned back to the man and said

"Well I fooled you, I fooled you
I got pig iron, I got pig iron, I got old pig iron"

Yeah Down the Rock Island Line she's a mighty good road
Rock Island Line it's the road to ride
Rock Island Line 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
Yeah looked cloudy in the west and it looked like rain
'Round the curve came a passenger train
A northbound train on a southbound track
He's alright leavin' but he won't be back

Yeah Down the Rock Island Line she's a mighty good road
Rock Island Line it's the road to ride
Rock Island Line 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

Oh, oh I might be right, I might be wrong
But you're gonna miss me when I'm gone
Well the engineer said before he died
"There are two more drinks that I'd like to try"
The conductor said, "What could they be?"
"A hot cup of coffee and a cold glass of tea"

Rock Island Line Rock Island Line she's a mighty good road
Rock Island Line it's the road to ride
Rock Island Line 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
Yeah if you ride get your ticket at the station for the Rock Island Line