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

Cloudy in the west, looks like rain,
Bought me a ticket on a railroad train
Pour on the water, shovel on the coals,
Stick your head out the window, see the drivers roll

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

The 7:45 was always late
But arrived today at a quarter to eight
The engineer said when they cheered his name
"We're right on time but this is yesterday's train"

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

The engineer said before he died
"There's two more drinks that I would like to try"
The conductor said "What can they be?"
"A hot glass of water and a cold cup of tea"

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

The eastbound train was on the westbound track
The northbound train was on the southbound track
The conductor hollered "now ain't this fine"
What a peculiar way to run a railway line

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

Ticket at the station for the Rock Island Line