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Rock Island Line

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90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

(Rhythm is the most important thing here, but if you can work an alternating bass into
song with the rhythm some versions have it, some don't.)
[FYI Pig Iron:  Iron tapped from a blast furnace in preparation for conversion into
cast iron, or wrought iron; getting its name from the shape of the moulds (resembling a pig)
which it used to be cast in the 19th century.]
To do this song right, you have to start out by telling the story of the Rock Island Line.
There’s a railroad in Louisiana and just outside of New Orleans they used to have a toll
and the engineers pull up to the toll booth & blow the whistle then talk to the depot
and tell’em what they have on board. For certain things, you don’t have to pay toll at 
So the engineer would pull up to the station and say something like…
(Just speak the Line here in the first bit. Then give the A Chord a quick down strum chop)
I got LiAiivvveestooockk
I got LiAiivvveestooockk
I got Apigs,    I got sAheep
I got cAows,   I got hoArses
AI got AAAALLLL Livestock
[Spoken]
N.C.
Then the depot agent yells “Well boy, you can go right on threw, you ain’t gotta pay no
just go right on threw”
So the engineer starts pickin up some steam (Start Strumming Again)
(This is where you is where to start the train theme, start out a little slow then and
up slightly to a moderate pace, simulating the train)
And then when he gets on past the toll man he yells
A“Well, I fooled you, I fooled you
AI got pig iron, I got pig iron
AI got AAAALLLLL Pig Iron
AWell the Rock Island Line, She’s a mighty good road
Well the Rock Island Line, She’s a rEoad to ride
I say, the ARock Island Line, She’s a mighty good road
And if ya wDanna find it, gotta ride it Alike you find it
Get-cha ticket Dat the statiEon on the Rock AIsland Liiine
AWell I might be right and, I may be wrong
But you’re gonna misEs me when I’m gone
[Chorus]
AThe Rock Island Line, She’s a mighty good road
 The Rock Island Line, ShEe’s a road to ride
I say, the ARock Island Line, She’s a mighty good road
And if ya want tDo ride it, you gotta ride it like yAou find it
Get-cha ticket Dat the station Eon the Rock IslAand Liiine
That Rock AIsland Line, She's a mighty good road
The Rock Island Line, She's the rEoad to ride
I say, the ARock Island Line, She’s a mighty good road
And if ya want to Dride it, you gotta ridAe it like you find it
Get-cha ticket Dat the station on tEhe Rock Island ALiiine
AA  B  C Double X, Y, Z
Come On Baby, Take Ea Ride With Me
I say, tAhe Rock Island Line, She's a mighty good road
Well Rock Island Line, She's the Eroad to ride
The Rock IsAland Line, She’s a mighty good road
And if ya want to Dride it, you gotta riAde it like you find it
Get-cha ticket Dat the station on Ethe Rock Island LAiiine
I sAay, the Rock Island Line, She's a mighty good road
Well Rock Island Line, She's the Eroad to ride
The Rock IsAland Line, She’s a mighty good road
And if ya want to Dride it, you gotta ridAe it like you find it
Get-cha ticket Dat the statEion on the Rock IAsland Liiine

All chords in this song (3)

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Rock Island Line

by Leadbelly

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

(Rhythm is the most important thing here, but if you can work an alternating bass into

song with the rhythm some versions have it, some don't.)

[FYI Pig Iron: Iron tapped from a blast furnace in preparation for conversion into

cast iron, or wrought iron; getting its name from the shape of the moulds (resembling a pig)

which it used to be cast in the 19th century.]

To do this song right, you have to start out by telling the story of the Rock Island Line.

There’s a railroad in Louisiana and just outside of New Orleans they used to have a toll

and the engineers pull up to the toll booth & blow the whistle then talk to the depot

and tell’em what they have on board. For certain things, you don’t have to pay toll at

So the engineer would pull up to the station and say something like…

(Just speak the Line here in the first bit. Then give the A Chord a quick down strum chop)

I got Liiivvveestooockk

A A

I got pigs, I got sheep

A A

I got cows, I got horses

I got AAAALLLL Livestock

[Spoken]

N.C.

Then the depot agent yells “Well boy, you can go right on threw, you ain’t gotta pay no

just go right on threw”

So the engineer starts pickin up some steam (Start Strumming Again)

(This is where you is where to start the train theme, start out a little slow then and

up slightly to a moderate pace, simulating the train)

And then when he gets on past the toll man he yells

“Well, I fooled you, I fooled you

I got pig iron, I got pig iron

I got AAAALLLLL Pig Iron

Well the Rock Island Line, She’s a mighty good road

Well the Rock Island Line, She’s a road to ride

I say, the Rock Island Line, She’s a mighty good road

D A

And if ya wanna find it, gotta ride it like you find it

D E A

Get-cha ticket at the station on the Rock Island Liiine

Well I might be right and, I may be wrong

But you’re gonna miss me when I’m gone

[Chorus]

The Rock Island Line, She’s a mighty good road

The Rock Island Line, She’s a road to ride

I say, the Rock Island Line, She’s a mighty good road

D A

And if ya want to ride it, you gotta ride it like you find it

D E A

Get-cha ticket at the station on the Rock Island Liiine

That Rock Island Line, She's a mighty good road

The Rock Island Line, She's the road to ride

I say, the Rock Island Line, She’s a mighty good road

D A

And if ya want to ride it, you gotta ride it like you find it

D E A

Get-cha ticket at the station on the Rock Island Liiine

A B C Double X, Y, Z

Come On Baby, Take a Ride With Me

I say, the Rock Island Line, She's a mighty good road

Well Rock Island Line, She's the road to ride

The Rock Island Line, She’s a mighty good road

D A

And if ya want to ride it, you gotta ride it like you find it

D E A

Get-cha ticket at the station on the Rock Island Liiine

I say, the Rock Island Line, She's a mighty good road

Well Rock Island Line, She's the road to ride

The Rock Island Line, She’s a mighty good road

D A

And if ya want to ride it, you gotta ride it like you find it

D E A

Get-cha ticket at the station on the Rock Island Liiine

About Rock Island Line Chords by Leadbelly

Learn how to play Rock Island Line by Leadbelly with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Rock Island Line chords”, “Rock Island Line guitar chords”, or “Leadbelly Rock Island Line chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy Rock Island Line chords and for experienced players who want accurate Rock Island Line lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include A, C, E, D, B.

FAQ — Rock Island Line by Leadbelly

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