The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Now this here's the story about the Rock Island Line
Now the Rock Island Line she run down into New Orleans
Just before you get into New Orleans why they got a big toll gate
Where you gotta pay the man just so much
Course,if you got certain things on board you're okay
You don't have to pay the man nothin
Right now we see a train she pull into the station
The man he stick his head out the window
And he yelled down at 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, boy you okay
You go on through, you don't have to pay nothin?
So the man he go on through
The train get on down away from the station a little bit why he started pickin?up a little bit of steam
He started pickin? up a little bit of speed
The driver think he safely out of sight of the man so he stick his head out of the window
And he yelled back down the line at the man
Well, I fooled you, I fooled you
I got pig iron, I got pig iron
I got all pig iron, (Hey, Hey)
Now I'll tell you where I'm goin? boy
Down the Rock Island Line she?s a mighty good road
The Rock Island Line is the road to ride
The Rock Island Line she?s a mighty good road
If you ride you gotta ride her like you find her
Get your ticket at the station for the Rock Island Line
ABC WXYZ
The cat?son the cover but he don?t see me
Down the Rock Island Lineshe?s a mighty good road
The Rock Island Line is the road to ride
The Rock Island Line she?s a mighty good road
If you ride you gotta ride her like you find her
Get your ticket at the station for the Rock Island Line
Well I may be right, I maybe wrong
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone
Down the Rock Island Line she?s a mighty good road
The Rock Island Line is the road to ride
The Rock Island Line she?s a mighty good road
If you ride you gotta ride her like you find her
Get your ticket at the station for the Rock Island Line
Down the Rock Island Line she?s a mighty good road
The Rock Island Line is the road to ride
The Rock Island Line she?s a mighty good road
If you ride you gotta ride her like you find her
Get your ticket at the station for the Rock Island Line
Now the Rock Island Line she run down into New Orleans
Just before you get into New Orleans why they got a big toll gate
Where you gotta pay the man just so much
Course,if you got certain things on board you're okay
You don't have to pay the man nothin
Right now we see a train she pull into the station
The man he stick his head out the window
And he yelled down at 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, boy you okay
You go on through, you don't have to pay nothin?
So the man he go on through
The train get on down away from the station a little bit why he started pickin?up a little bit of steam
He started pickin? up a little bit of speed
The driver think he safely out of sight of the man so he stick his head out of the window
And he yelled back down the line at the man
Well, I fooled you, I fooled you
I got pig iron, I got pig iron
I got all pig iron, (Hey, Hey)
Now I'll tell you where I'm goin? boy
Down the Rock Island Line she?s a mighty good road
The Rock Island Line is the road to ride
The Rock Island Line she?s a mighty good road
If you ride you gotta ride her like you find her
Get your ticket at the station for the Rock Island Line
ABC WXYZ
The cat?son the cover but he don?t see me
Down the Rock Island Lineshe?s a mighty good road
The Rock Island Line is the road to ride
The Rock Island Line she?s a mighty good road
If you ride you gotta ride her like you find her
Get your ticket at the station for the Rock Island Line
Well I may be right, I maybe wrong
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone
Down the Rock Island Line she?s a mighty good road
The Rock Island Line is the road to ride
The Rock Island Line she?s a mighty good road
If you ride you gotta ride her like you find her
Get your ticket at the station for the Rock Island Line
Down the Rock Island Line she?s a mighty good road
The Rock Island Line is the road to ride
The Rock Island Line she?s a mighty good road
If you ride you gotta ride her like you find her
Get your ticket at the station for the Rock Island Line
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
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