1.

Rock Island Line

(Johnny Cash)

Now this here's a story about the Rock Island Line

Well the Rock Island Line she runs down into New Orleans

There's a big tollgate down there and you know

If you got certain things on board when you go through the tollgate

Well you don't have to pay the man no toll

Well a train driver he pulled up to the tollgate

And a man hollered and asked him what all he had on board and said

I got livestock I got livestock I got cows I got pigs I got sheep

I got mules I got all livestock

Well he said you're all right boy you don't have to pay no toll

You can just go right on through so he went on through the toolgate

And as he went through he started pickin' up a little bit of speed

Pickin' up a little bit of steam

He got on through he turned and looked back at the man he said

Well I fooled you I fooled you I got pigiron I got pigiron I got old pigiron

Down the Rock Island Line she's a mighty good road

Rock Island Line it's a road to ride

Rock Island Line it's a mighty good road

Well if you ride you got to ride it like you finally get your ticket

At the station for the Rock Island Line

Looked cloudy in the west and it looked like rain

Round the curve came a passenger train

North bound train on the southbound track

He's alright a leavin' but he won't be back

Well the Rock Island Line...

Oh I may be right and I may be wrong

But you gonna miss me when I'm gone

Well the engineer said before he died

There were two more drinks that he'd like to try

The conductor said what could they be

A hot cup of coffee and a cold glass of tea

Well the Rock Island Line...

**********

2.

(I Heard That) Lonesome Whistle

(Hank Williams - Jimmie Davis)

I was ridin' No 9 headin' south from Caroline

I heard that lone-vow-vow-some whistle blow

I got in trouble had to roam I left my gal and left my home

I heard that lone-vow-vow-some whistle blow

Just a kid acting smart I went and broke my darling's heart

I guess I was too young to know

They took me off to Georgia Main locked me to a ball and chain

I heard that lone-vow-vow-some whistle blow

[ guitar ]

All alone I bear the shame I'm a number not a name

I heard that lone-vow-vow-some whistle blow

All I do is sit and cry when that evening train goes by

I heard that lone-vow-vow-some 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 gal of mine I'm in Georgia doin' time

I heard that lone-vow-vow-some whistle blow

**********

3.

If The Good Lord’s Willing

(Jerry Reed Hubbard)

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

[ guitar ]

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 stop 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

**********

4.

Country Boy

(Johnny Cash)

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

But 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

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

And of everything's gonna turn out right you're gonna fry fish tonight

Country boy you're lucky free country boy I wish I was you and you was me

[ guitar ]

Country boy got work to do country boy in the morning dew

You gotta cut the weeds you gotta plant the seeds

There's many a row you know you gotta hoe

But when it's quittin' time and your work is through there's a lot of life in you

Country boy 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 lots to lose country boy how I wish I was in your shoes

**********

5.

Cry Cry Cry

(Johnny Cash)

Everybody knows where you go when the sun goes down

I think you only live to see the lights uptown

I wasted my time when I would try try try

Cause when the lights have lost their glow you'll cry cry cry

Soon your sugar daddys will all be gone

You'll wake up some cold day and find you're alone

You'll call for 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 cry alone

When everyone's forgotten and you're left on your own

You're gonna cry cry cry

[ guitar ]

I lie awake at night to wait till 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 love gets on oh no one will care for you

When you come back to me for a little love that's true

I'll tell you no and then you'll ask me why why why

When I remind you all of this you'll cry cry cry

You're gonna cry cry cry and you want me then

It'll hurt when you think of the fool you've been

You're gonna cry cry cry

**********

6.

So Doggone Lonesome

(Johnny Cash)

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

[ guitar ]

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

**********

7.

Remember Me (I’m The One Who Loves You)

(Stuart Hamblen)

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 old world turned you down 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

[ guitar ]

And through all kinds of weather...

**********

8.

I Was There When It Happened

(Jimmie Davis - Fern Jones)

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

Well I was there when it happened and so I guess I ought to know

Yes I know when Jesus saved me (saved my soul)

The very moment he forgave me (made me hope)

He took away my heavy burden Lord he gave me peace within (peace within)

Satan can't make me doubt it (I won't doubt it)

It's real and I'm gonna shout it (I'm gonna shout it)

I was there when it happened and so I guess I ought to know

[ guitar ]

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

I was there when it happened and so I guess I ought to know

Yes I know when Jesus saved me...

**********

9.

I Walk The Line

(Johnny Cash)

Mhm 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

[ guitar ]

Mhm I find it very very easy to be true

I find myself alone when each day's through

Yes I'll admit that I'm a fool for you

Because you're mine I walk the line

[ guitar ]

Mhm 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

[ guitar ]

Mhm 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 ever try to turn the tide

Because you're mine I walk the line

[ guitar ]

Mhm I keep a close watch...

**********

10.

Wreck Of The Old ’97

(Johnny Cash - Bob Johnson - Norman Blake)

They gave him his orders at Monroe Virginia sayin' Steve you're way behind time

This is not 38 this is old 97 put her into Spencer on time

Well he turned around and said to his big greasy fireman

Hey shovel on a little more coal

And when we cross that White Oak Mountain watch old 97 roll

[ guitar ]

It's a mighty rough road from Lynchburg to Danville in a line on a three mile grade

It was on that grade that he lost his air brakes see what a jump we made

He was goin' down the grade making 90 miles an hour

His whistle broke into a scream

He was found in the wreck with his hand on the throttle

A scalded to death by the steam

Now all you ladies you better take a warning from this time on and learn

Never speak harsh words to your true lovin' husband

He may leave you and never return

**********

11.

Folsom Prison Blues

(Johnny Cash)

I hear the train a comin' it's rollin' 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 Antone

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

When I hear that whistle blowin' I hang my head and I cry

[ guitar ]

I bet there's rich folks eatin' in a fancy dining car

They're prob'ly drinkin' coffee and smokin' big cigars

Well I know I had it comin' I know I can't be free

But those people keep a movin' and that's what tortures me

[ guitar ]

Well if they freed me from this prison if that railroad train was mine

I bet I'd move it on a little farther down the line

Far from Folsom Prison that's where I want to stay

Then I'd let that lonesome whistle blow my blues away

**********

12.

Doin’ My Time

(Jimmie Skinner)

On this old rock pile with a 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 aching heart want that girl of mine

You can hear my hammer you can hear my song

Gonna swing it like John Henry all day long Lord Lord

Gotta do my time I gotta do my time

With an aching heart want that girl of mine

[ guitar ]

When that old judge looked down at me

Said I'll put you in that penitentiary Lord Lord

Gotta do my time gotta do my time

With an aching heart want that girl of mine

[ guitar ]

Well now it won't be long just a few more days

They'll let me out of here I'm gonna stay Lord Lord

With that gal of mine with that gal of mine

She's waited for me while I've done my time

**********