"Rock Island Line" (Huddie Ledbetter; Tro Essex Music Ltd.) [2:27]

Recorded 13 July 1954 in Decca Recording Studios, Studio Two, West Hampstead, London.

Released as Decca F 10647 on 6 January 1956. UK#8; US#6. Original release on Chris Barber's New Orleans Joy (10" Decca LF 1198), 1954

The Lonnie Donegan Skiffle Group with Lonnie Donegan (vocals and guitar), Micky Ashman (bass), and Beryl Bryden (washboard).

Hugh Mendl (artist-and-repertoire manager) with Arthur Lilley (balance engineer)

Source: Lonnie Donegan. 1992. Lonnie Donegan: The EP Collection [1]. France: See For Miles Records Ltd. [SEECD 346] Originally released on Pye Records.

Notes and Quotes

	Section	Time	M.	Description	Text
A	Intro	0:00		Donegan speaks the text while the guitar and bass pulse a chord behind him. The music has not meter, only a pulse. The text introduces the song.	a
		0:13		The text now contextualizes the action, describing the system of tolls that trains would have to pay regional rail systems for use of their tracks. Different cargos were covered by state and federal regulations, allowing some to pass toll free. Others wee subject to payments.	b
		0:27		The story of how one train passes through the toll station without paying an appropriate fee unfolds.	c
		0:51		As the train in the story picks up speed, so does the music.	d
B	chorus	1:09	21	With the arrival of the chorus identifying the song, the song gets a second chord. (The harmonic structure of this iconic skiffle tune is very, very simple.)	e
C	verse	1:21	11	The melody toggles for the most part between two pitches, perhaps in imitation of the train whistle. The verse melody is distinct from the melody of the chorus; however the verse melody borrows directly from the ending of the chorus.	f
B	chorus	1:26	22	Second iteration of chorus.	e
C	verse	1:39	11	Verse presented as an interjection.	g
B	chorus	1:44	25	Third iteration of the chorus.	e
C	verse	1:57	11	Interjected verse.	h
B	chorus	2:03	20	Fourth iteration of the chorus.	e
B	chorus	2:13	20	Fifth iteration and coda.	e
		2:27		Song ends at almost exactly the same duration as the Lead Belly version.

Text
Now, this here's the story 'bout the Rock Island Line. Now, Rock Island Line, she runs down into New Orleans.	a
And just outside of New Orleans is a big tollgate. And all the trains when they pass through the tollgate, why they, they gotta pay the man some money. But of course, if you got certain things on board, you okay. You don't have to pay a man nothin'.	b
And just now we see a train, she comin' down the line. And when she come up on the tollgate, the driver, he shout down to the man. He say, "I got pigs. I got a horses. I got cows. I got sheep. I got all livestock. I got all livestock. I got all livestock. And the man say, "Well you alright boy, you just get on through, you don't have to pay me nothin'." And the train go through.	c
And when he go through the tollgate, the train get up a bit a steam and a little bit a speed. And when the driver think he safely on the other side, He shout 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.	d
Down the Rock Island Line, she's a mighty good road. The Rock Island Line is the road to ride. Yes, the Rock Island Line is a mighty good road. And if you want to ride it, gotta ride it like you find it. Get you ticket at the station on the Rock Island Line.	e
I may be right. I may be wrong. You know you're gonna miss me when I'm gone.	f
Hallelujah I'm safe from sin. The good Lord's comin' for to see me again.	g
A, B, C, W, X, Y, Z, The cat's on the cover but he don't see me.	h

Skiffle	Schedule	Lonnie Donegan
	07-Feb-2012