| |
Section |
Time |
M. |
Description |
Text |
| A |
story
intro |
0:00 |
|
Ledbelly
speaks the introduction to the the song while strumming the guitar. |
a |
| |
|
0:05 |
|
Contextualizes
the Rock Island Line and train culture differences between Illinois (presumably,
since Chicago is at the northern end of the line) and New Orleans. The
implication of Ledbelly's story is that communication between the engineer
and the depot agent (who would impose different taxes or no taxes depending
on what the train was carrying) took place with train whistles, at least
on the part of the train. |
b |
| |
dialogue |
0:26 |
|
Ledbelly now imitates the sound of the communication from the train. |
c |
| B |
chorus |
0:53 |
24 |
First
iteration of the chorus with an extension of the final note. |
d |
| C |
verse |
1:10 |
9 |
The
verse section functions here more like an interjection. |
e |
| B |
chorus |
1:16 |
23 |
Second
interation of the chorus with an extension of the final note. |
d |
| C |
verse |
1:30 |
9 |
The
second interjection. The performance continues to increase in tempo. |
f |
| B |
chorus |
1:36 |
23 |
Third
iteration of the chorus. |
d |
| C |
verse |
1:51 |
9 |
Third
interjection. |
g |
| B |
chorus |
1:56 |
23 |
Fourth
iteration of the chorus. |
d |
| B |
chorus |
2:11 |
23 |
Fifth
iteration functioning as a coda. |
d |
| |
|
2:27 |
|
ends |
|
| Text |
|
| That
boy's gonna sing about that Rock Island Line, which is a mighty good road
to ride. |
a |
| And in that road,
the man's gonna talk to the depot agent when he's comin' out of the
Cook with the Rock Island Line freight train. That train comin' back
from New Orleans this-a-way. That man blows his whistles down there
different than man blows his whistles here, cause he's talkin' to the
depot agent and gonna tell him somethin. And when that switch board
follow that line, that means for that frieght train to go into hold,
man. Go into talk time.... |
b |
"I
got goats. I got sheep. I got hogs. I got cows. I got horses. I got all
livestock. I got all livestock."
The depot agent let him get by, and when he get by, he get out, he gonna
tell him, he goin' on now...,
"I fooled you. I fooled you. I got iron. I got all pig iron. I got
all pig iron." That Rock Island Line. |
c |
Oh
the Rock Island Line, a might good road, oh the Rock Island Line, the
road to ride. Oh the Rock Island Line it's a might good road.
If want to ride it, gotta ride it like you find it, get your ticket at
the station on the Rock Island Line. |
d |
| Jesus
died to save our sins, glory to God we're gonna meet him again. |
e |
| I
may be right and I may be wrong, know you're gonna miss me when I'm gone. |
f |
| A-B-C
double X-Y-Z, cat's in the cupboard but you don't see me. |
g |