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

("Pardon pardon me are you going to sing the song, or read it or what?")
("We'll Im going to sing it but first I always tell a bit of the story behind
The rock island line, sketch in a bit of background as it were")
("You are going to sing though?")
("In just a secnd I'll get to it")
("Well lets get to in then")

And all the trains that go through the toll gate
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'
("Alright lets step right along here, lets snap it up")
("Okay")

And just now we see a change comin down the line
When you come up to the toll gate
The driver, he shout down to the man he say

I got pigs, I got horses, I got cows

("Look you can skip all of that)
("You gotta let me name all the animals")
("Yes I know but we don't need that")
("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 lets get the train rhythm going")
("And never mind the sheep")
("Okay have the driver say")

I got all livestock, I got all livestock I got all livestock
The man say, you alright boy just
Get on through, you don't have to pay me nothin

("Look fellow look look")
("I didn't mention the sheep")
("I know but let's skip the recitation eh")
("Okay but um")
("Lets get to the meat of it")
("I've come the best part now where the driver foo him")
("He foo him?")
("Yeah I say")

I food you, I food you

("Look Let's just sing the song  eh")
("Right but when we get to pig iron part it's the pay off")
("Just sing the song eh")
("I think you ought to let me tell how he food the togy man with the
pigiron")
("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 your going to disappoint them that's all")
("I'll take the chance")
("Okay here we go")

The rock island line is a mighty good road
The rock island

("Are you sure you dont won't the pig iron part")
("Forget it will you forget it") 

Line is the road to ride
Yes the rock island line is a mighty good road
Well if you want to ride you gotta ride it like you find it
Get your ticket at the station of the rock island line

("Mumbo's, hey Mumbo's, what is this get your chicken at the station")
("No ticket, get your ticket at the station")
("Oh get your ticket at the station")
("Try not to interrupt me eh")

ABC WXYZ
The cats in the cupboard but he don't see me

("Now wait a minute wait a minute wait a minute. The ABC WXYZ, 
the cats in the cupboard. I don't know what's the ABC got to do with 
the cat's in the cupboard")
("Well it's got nothing to do with it")
("I know Is it a social signifigance of some kind")
("No no no, it's just a traditional lyric")
("It's just a traditional lyric? - he he he thanks very much, that'll do 
fine")
("I've got one more chorus")

Rock island line she's a mighty good road
Rock island line is the road to ride
Yes the rock island line is a mighty good road
Well if you want to ride you gotta ride it like you find it
Get your ticket at the station of the rock island line

("Is that it, that's the end")
("Yeah that's it. I hope 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 you know")
("Yes I know, sketch in the backgrownd")
("You gonna, you gonna release the record")
("No I don't think so")
("Okay, okay")
