Lyrics: Traditional
Music: Traditional
Played by Jerry Garcia with an unnamed bluegrass band in Burlingame in January 1962.
Thanks to Matt Schofield for the lyrics.
Railroad Bill, Railroad Bill
He don't work and he never will
He'll just ride, ride, ride
Railroad Bill he ain't so bad
Killed his ma, shot a round at his dad
And I'll ride, ride, ride
Railroad Bill coming home soon
Killed (McMillan?) by the light of the moon
And I'll ride, ride, ride
[Mistress McMillan she whooped out?]
[Don't ask my husband cause I heard him fall?]
And I'll ride, ride, ride
I went down on old number one
Railroad Bill he had just begun
And I'll ride, ride, ride
I went down on old number two
Railroad Bill he was almost through
And I'll ride, ride, ride
Railroad Bill coming down the hill
Lighting a cigar with a ten dollar bill
And I'll ride, ride, ride
He killed a chicken, sent me a wing
[Thinks I don't work, cause I ain't doing a thing?]
And I'll ride, ride, ride
Railroad Bill, Railroad Bill
He don't work and he never will
He'll just ride, ride, ride
| Jerry Garcia Recordings | |||||
| Date | Album | Recorded By | |||
| Summer or Fall 1961 | Before The Dead | Garcia with unknown bluegrass band | |||