Going down to take a ride on the Rock Island Line
I'm gonna meet an old friend of mine
It's gonna be a fine ride if only I can hide
From the man who guards the freighting line
I've got two thousand miles to go where I want to be
Lady luck stay with me
I wanna be there
I gotta be there

[Chorus:]
Oh, sweet country calling, calling me its way
Come and bathe in cool clear waters, wash the city dirt away
Oh, sweet country calling, I've got something to say
When I get back to you, I won't let you down
This time I'm gonna stay

I wanna hear, hear the bluegrass
I wanna breathe in the mountain air
I gotta take in all that moonshine
But most of all I wanna see a friend of mine

Last time I saw her she was waving me goodbye
Heading on down the line
She said Come on along, I decided to stay
Now I know I was wrong
That's why I'm playing with fate riding this freight
Lady luck please stay with me
I wanna be there
I gotta be there

[Chorus 2x]