☝️ Key Points
- The song tells the story of the Rock Island Line, a railroad route to New Orleans.
- There is a toll station along the route, and the train conductor pretends to transport cattle to avoid paying the toll.
- The chorus describes the Rock Island Line as a good railroad route and encourages listeners to use it.
- The lyrics also mention a weather phenomenon, rain clouds in the west, and a train that is going in the wrong direction.
- In the end, the lyrics speak of an engineer who wants to try certain drinks before he dies.
Interpretation
The lyrics of the song "Rock Island Line" by
Johnny Cash tell the story of the Rock Island Line, a railroad track that leads to New Orleans. There is a toll booth along the track, and if you have certain things on the train, you don't have to pay the toll. So the train conductor goes to the toll booth and the man asks him what he has on board. The conductor replies that he is carrying livestock - cows, pigs, sheep, and mules. The man then tells him that he doesn't have to pay the toll and the train can just keep going.
As the train passes the toll booth, it accelerates and the conductor turns around and shouts to the man that he has tricked him. Instead of livestock, the conductor has loaded iron.
The chorus of the song describes the Rock Island Line as a very good railroad track and encourages the listeners to use it. The lyrics also mention a weather phenomenon, rain clouds in the west, and a train going in the wrong direction.
At the end of the song, the lyrics speak of an engineer who wants to try two specific drinks before he dies - a hot cup of coffee and a cool glass of tea.
Overall, "Rock Island Line" is about traveling by train, the tricks people use to avoid paying tolls, and the freedom and sense of adventure associated with train travel. The lyrics encourage the listeners to use the Rock Island Line and enjoy life to the fullest.