Rock Island Line (song)
"Rock Island Line" is an American blues/folk song first recorded by John Lomax in 1934 as sung by inmates in an Arkansas State Prison, and later popularized by Lead Belly. Many versions have been recorded by other artists, most significantly the world-wide hit version in the mid-1950s by Lonnie Donegan. The song is ostensibly about the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad.
The chorus to the old song reads:
The Rock Island Line is a mighty good road
The Rock Island Line is the road to ride
The Rock Island Line is a mighty good road
If you want to ride you gotta ride it like you find it
Get your ticket at the station for the Rock Island Line
The verses tell a humorous story about a train operator who smuggled pig iron through a toll gate by claiming all he had on board was livestock.
Read more about Rock Island Line (song): History, Railroad Associations, See Also, Bibliography
Famous quotes containing the words rock, island and/or line:
“Margaret: Some people have life made for them.
Frank: That’s right, Mrs. Hammond, and some people make it for themselves. It’s about time you took that ton of rock off your shoulders.”
—David Storey (b. 1933)
“They all came, some wore sentiments
Emblazoned on T-shirts, proclaiming the lateness
Of the hour, and indeed the sun slanted its rays
Through branches of Norfolk Island pine as though
Politely clearing its throat....”
—John Ashbery (b. 1927)
“What, will the line stretch out to the crack of doom?”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)