Lyrics: Noah Lewis
Music: Noah Lewis
Well my mama told me, my papa told me tooThe earliest version by the Grateful Dead, on "Rare Cuts And Oddities" contains an extra verse:
Well my mama told me, my papa told me too
Well I shouldn't be here trying to sing these railroad blues
Wish I had listened to oh what mama said (note 1)
Wish I had listened to oh what mama said
Well I wouldn't be here trying to sleep in this cold iron bed (note 2)
Well I went to the depot, I never got there on time
Went down to the depot, never got there on time
Well that train's rolling down, she's rolling down the line
Mister jailer go away now, don't tell me no lies
Mister jailer go away now, don't tell me no lies
Well that train's going down, she's rolling down the line
Well my mama told me, my papa told me too
Well my mama told me, papa told me too
Well I shouldn't be here trying to sing these railroad blues
Wish I had listened to oh what mama said
Wish I had listened to oh what mama said
Well I wouldn't be here trying to sleep in this cold iron bed
I asked the judge now, what might be my fineNotes
I asked the judge now, what might be my fine
Ninety years on the Rocky Island Line (note 3)
Wish I had of listened, oh Lord, what mama said
Wish I had of listened, oh Lord, what mama said
Lord I wouldn't have been a [??]
Lordy, mama told me, [Lordy, papa told me too]
Lordy, mama told me, [papa told me too]
[??]
Well the railroad that I live [??]
[??] railroad [?]
Mama said [??] [on ninety nine]
Mister [?] go away now, don't tell me no lies
Mister [?] go away now, don't tell me no lies
It might never stop here, keep on riding by
Feel like [??] [I denied]
Lord I did [??]
[?] rolling cross [?]