Railroad Blues Songtext
von Beastie Boys

"All Aboard, Track 17, All Aboard′"

YEEEHAAW
Now this song is dedicated,
To all the hard workin' pioneers of this country
Setting out discovering the West
Bringin′ a railroad to where no man has ever been before.


Johnny he worked on a railroad
A poundin' on iron and steel
Workin' his way out West now
The only sure things his next meal
America was young
But she was a growin′
Layin′ tracks across the prairie
Not knowing where they're going
His mother didn′t wanna' leave him
But now he′s in the West
She said please don't go
But he said if I don′t I'll never rest
It wasn't always easy
Some of the boys died
Johnny wrote her letters
But received no replies

Johnny he worked on a railroad
A poundin′ on iron and steel
Workin′ his way out West now
The only sure things his next meal

Johhny reached San Francisco
Tired and broke without a dime
Started panning for gold
Just a hopin' he would find
The gold wasn′t a rushin'
But Johnny kept on minin′
Trying to send his mama something
With the letters he was signing
Then one day Johnny finally got a reply
When he opened mama's letter
He began to cry
She′s a writin' from her deathbed
And this is what she said
Please don't be mad at me son,
′Ccause tomorrow I′ll be dead


Johnny he worked on a railroad
A poundin' on iron and steel
Workin′ his way out West now
The only sure things his next meal