intro
 |  D   |  D   |  D   |  D   | 
D
Now this here’s the  story  about the Rock Island Line. 
The Rock Island Line, she runs down into New Orleans, 
And just outside of New Orleans is a big toll gate, 
And all the trains that go through the toll gate 
Why, they gotta pay the man some money. 
But of course, if you got certain things on board 
You’re okay and you don’t have to pay the man nothin’. 
And just now we see a train, she comin’ down the line. 
When you she come up near the toll gate 
The driver, he shout down to the man, an’ he say: 
“I got pigs, I got horses, I got cows, I got sheep 
I got all livestock, I got all livestock, I got all livestock.” 
The man say, “Well, you all right boy, 
Just get on through, you don’t have to pay me nothin’.” 
And then the train go through, and when he go through the tollgate 
The train gather up a little bit of steam and a little bit of speed. 
And when the driver think he safely on the other side 
He shouts back down the line to the man. 
He said, “I fooled you, I fooled you. 
I got pig iron, I got pig iron, I got all pig iron. 
Now I’ll tell you where I’m goin’ boy.” 
chorus
D
Down the  rock  island line, she’s a mighty good road, 
A
The rock island line is the  road  to ride. 
D
Yeah, the  rock  island line, she’s a mighty good road 
G D
And if you  want  to ride it you gotta  ride  it like you 
find it, 
G A D
Get your  tic ket at the station of the  rock  island  line.  
1.
D
may  be right, I may be wrong, 
A D
You  know  you’re gonna miss me when I’m  gone.  
chorus
2.
D
Halle- luj ah, I’m safe from sin, 
A D
The  good  Lord’s comin’ to see me a- gain.  
chorus
3.
D
A-B -C-W-X-Y-Z, 
A D
The  cat ’s on the cover but he don’t see  me.  
chorus × 2