1. ROCK ISLAND LINE

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
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 change comin down the line
When you come up to the toll gate
The driver, he shout down to the man
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, you alright 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 gotta have 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
I fooled you, I fooled you
I got pig iron, I got pig iron
I got all pig iron,

[Chorus]
Down the Rock Island Line is a might good road
Oh the Rock Island Line is the road to ride
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

It was cloudy in the west, looked like rain
But round the corner come-a passenger train
North-bound train on the south bound track
You were all right a-leavin but you won't be back

[Chorus]

Now I may be right and I may be wrong
But you're gonna miss me when I'm gone

Now the engineer said before he died,
There were two more drinks he'd like to have tried,
The doctor asked him "what could they be"
He said "a hot cup of coffee and a cold glass of tea"

[Chorus]


2. (I HEARD THAT) LONESOME WHISTLE

I was riding number nine
Heading South from Caroline
I heard that lonesome whistle blow

I got in trouble, had to roam
I left my girl and left my home
I heard that lonesome whistle blow

Just a kid, actin' smart
I went and broke my darling's heart
I guess I was too young to know

They took me off the Georgia Main
Locked me to a ball and chain
I heard that lonesome whistle blow

All alone I bear the shame
I'm a number, not a name
I heard that lonesome whistle blow

All I do is sit and cry
When that evening train goes by
I heard that lonesome whistle blow

I'll be locked here in this cell
Till my body's just a shell
And my hair turns whiter than snow

I'll never see that girl of mine
I'm in Georgia, doin' time
I heard that lonesome whistle blow


3. COUNTRY BOY

Country boy, ain't got no shoes
Country boy, ain't got no blues
Well, you work all day
While you're wantin' to play
In the sun and the sand
With a face that's tan
At the end of the day
When your work is done
You ain't got nothin' but fun

Country boy, ain't got no ills
Country boy, don't owe no bills

Country boy, ain't got no ills
Country boy, don't owe no bills
You get a wiggly worm
And then you watch him squirm
While you put him on a hook
And you drop him in a brook
If everything's gonna turn out right
You're gonna fry fish tonight

Country boy, you lucky free
Country boy, I wish I was you, and you were me

Country boy, you got work to do
Country boy, in the morning dew
You gotta cut the weeds
You gotta plant the seed
There's many a row
You know you gotta hoe
When it's quittin' time
And your work is through
There's a lot of life in you

Country boy, you got a shaggy dog
Country boy, up a holler log
Well, he comes in a run
When you pick up your gun
And with a shell or two
And your dog and you
When you get your rabbit
You'll skin his hide
He's gonna be good fried

Country boy, you got a lot to lose
Country boy, how I wish I was in your shoes


4. IF THE GOOD LORD'S WILLING

If the good Lord's willing and the creek stays down
I'll be in your arms time the moon come around
For a taste of love that's shining in your eyes
If the rooster crows at the crackin' of the dawn
I'll be there just as sure as you're born
If the good Lord's willing and the creeks don't rise
I'll comb my hair down brush my teeth
Shine up slick up dress up neat
Get everything looking just right
Cause I want to look pretty when I see you tonight
Just as sure as the rabbits are a jumping in the hollow
I'll be there you can bet your bottom dollar
If the good Lord's willing and the creeks don't rise

If the good Lord's willing and the creek stays low
I'll be there a knockin' at your door
With a hug and a kiss for the one I idolize
I'll wear my suit my Sunday best I'll be there lookin' my best
If the good Lord's willing and the creeks don't rise
I'll feed the mules and slop the hogs feed the cows and chop all the logs
Get all of my working done cause tonight we're gonna have lots of fun
Just as sure as there ever was a preacher man
I'll be there with a ring for your hand
If the good Lord's willing and the creek don't rise.


5. CRY, CRY, CRY

Everybody knows where you go when the sun goes down
I think you only live to see the lights of town
I wasted my time when I would try, try, try
When the lights have lost their glow, you're gonna cry, cry, cry

Soon your sugar-daddies will all be gone
You'll wake up some cold day and find you're alone
You'll call to me but I'm gonna tell you: "Bye, bye, bye,"
When I turn around and walk away, you'll cry, cry, cry

You're gonna cry, cry, cry and you'll cry alone
When everyone's forgotten and you're left on your own
You're gonna cry, cry, cry

I lie awake at night to wait 'til you come in
You stay a little while and then you're gone again
Every question that I ask, I get a lie, lie, lie
For every lie you tell, you're gonna cry, cry, cry

When your fickle little love gets old, no one will care for you
You'll come back to me for a little love that's true
I'll tell you no and you gonna ask me why, why, why
When I remind you of all of this, you'll cry, cry, cry

You're gonna cry, cry, cry and you'll want me there
It'll hurt when you think of the fool you've been
You're gonna cry, cry, cry


6. REMEMBER ME (I'M THE ONE WHO LOVES YOU)

When you're all alone and blue
No one to tell your troubles to
Remember me, I'm the one who loves you

When this world has turned you down
And not a true friend can be found
Remember me, I'm the one who loves you

And through all kinds of weather
You'll find I'll never change
Through the sunshine and the shadows
I'll always be the same

We're together right or wrong
Where you go I'll tag along
Remember me, I'm the one who loves you

And through all kinds of weather
You'll find I'll never change
Through the sunshine and the shadows
I'll always be the same

We're together right or wrong
Where you go I'll tag along
Remember me, I'm the one who loves you
Remember me, I'm the one who loves you


7. SO DOGGONE LONESOME

I do my best to hide this lowdown feelin'
I try to make believe there's nothing wrong
But they're always asking me about you darling
And it hurts me so to tell 'em that you're gone
If they ask me I guess I'd be denyin'
That I've been unhappy all alone
But if they heard my heart they'd hear it cryin'
Where's my darling, when's she coming home

I ask myself a million times what's right for me to do
To try to lose my blues alone or hang around for you
But I make it pretty good until that moon comes shining through
And that I get so doggone lonesome

Time stands still when you're a waitin'
Sometimes I think my heart is stoppin' too
One lonely hour seems forever
Sixty minutes more to wait for you
But I guess I'll keep waitin' till you're with me cause I Believe that loving you is right
But I don't care if the sun don't rise tomorrow if I can't Have you with me tonight

Well I know I'll keep on loving you
Cause true love can't be killed
I ought to get you off of my mind
But I guess I never will
I could have a dozen others
But I know I'd love you still
Cause I get so doggone lonesome


8. I WAS THERE WHEN IT HAPPENED

There are some people, who say we cannot tell
Whether we are saved or, whether all is well
They say we only can hope and, trust that it is so
But I was there when it happened and I guess I ought to know

Yes, I know when Jesus saved me (yes, He saved my soul)
The very moment He forgave me (yes, He made me whole)
He took away my heavy burden (yes, He took my sin and)
And He gave me peace within (gave me peace within)
Satan can't make me doubt it (he can't make me doubt it)
It's real and I'm gonna shout it (I'm gonna shout it)
'Cause I was there when it happened (oh, my Lord)
and I guess I ought to know (yes, I ought to know)

Now, I don't care who tells me, salvation is not real
Though the world may argue, that we cannot feel
The heavy burdens lifted and the vile sins go
But I was there when it happened and I guess I ought to know


9. I WALK THE LINE

I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
I keep my eyes wide open all the time
I keep the ends out for the tie that binds
Because you're mine, I walk the line

I find it very, very easy to be true
I find myself alone when each day is through
Yes, I'll admit that I'm a fool for you
Because you're mine, I walk the line

As sure as night is dark and day is light
I keep you on my mind both day and night
And happiness I've known proves that it's right
Because you're mine, I walk the line

You've got a way to keep me on your side
You give me cause for love that I can't hide
For you I know I'd even try to turn the tide
Because you're mine, I walk the line

I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
I keep my eyes wide open all the time
I keep the ends out for the tie that binds
Because you're mine, I walk the line


10. WRECK OF THE OLD '97

They gave him his orders at Monroe Virginia sayin' Steve you're way behind time
This is not 38 this is old 97 you must put her into Spencer on time
Then he turned around and said to his black greasy fireman shovel on a little more coal
And when we cross that White Oak Mountain watch old 97 roll

But it's a mighty rough road from Lynchburg to Danville
With a line on a three mile grade
It was on that grade that he lost his air brakes
see what a jump he made

And then the telegram come to Washington station and this is how it read
They say that brave engineer that run old 97 he's a layin' in old Danville dead
He was goin' down the grade makin' 90 miles an hour with his whistle broke into a scream
He was found in the wreck with his hand on the throttle
Scalded to death by the steam

So now all you ladies you better take a warnin' from this time on and learn
Don't you speak harsh words to your true lovin' husband
He may leave you and never return


11. FOLSOM PRISON BLUES

I hear the train a comin'
It's rolling round the bend
And I ain't seen the sunshine since I don't know when
I'm stuck in Folsom prison, and time keeps draggin' on
But that train keeps a rollin' on down to San Anton
When I was just a baby my mama told me "Son,
Always be a good boy, don't ever play with guns"
But I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die
Now every time I hear that whistle I hang my head and cry

I bet there's rich folks eating in a fancy dining car
They're probably drinkin' coffee and smoking big cigars
Well I know I had it coming, I know I can't be free
But those people keep a movin'
And that's what tortures me

Well if they'd free me from this prison
If that railroad train was mine
I bet I'd move just a little further down the line
Far from Folsom prison, that's where I want to stay
And I'd let that lonesome whistle blow my blues away


12. DOIN' MY TIME

On this old rock pile, with my ball and chain
They call me by a number not a name Lord, Lord
Gotta do my time, I gotta do my time
With an achin' heart, and a wounded mind

When that old judge looked down and smiled
Said I put you up that river for a while Lord, Lord
Gotta do my time, I gotta do my time
With an achin' heart, and a wounded mind

You can here my hammer, you can hear my saw.
Gonna sing it like John Henry all day long Lord, Lord
Gotta do my time, I gotta do my time
With an achin' heart, and a wounded mind

Well now it wont be long, just a few more days
I'll settle down and quit my rowdy ways Lord, Lord
With that gal of mine, with that gal of mine
She's waited for me while I've done my time