We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Rock Island

from Sidetracked by Old John Smokey

/

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more. Paying supporters also get unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app.
    Purchasable with gift card

      name your price

     

  • Buy the Full Digital Album

about

John A. Lomax recorded this song at the Cumins State Prison farm in Gould, Arkansas, in 1934 from its convict composer, Kelly Pace. The Negro singer, Leadbelly, heard it, rearranged it in his own style, and made commercial phonograph recordings of it in the forties. One of these recordings was studied and imitated phrase by phrase, by Lonnie Donegan, who subsequently recorded it for an English company. The verses tell a humorous story about a train operator who smuggled pig iron through a toll gate by claiming all he had on board was livestock.

The actual Rock Island Line was also known as the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad.

lyrics

Old John Smokey, based on a song by Kelly Pace

credits

from Sidetracked, track released July 14, 2011
Based on the original prison song by Kelly Pace

license

tags

about

Old John Smokey image

Old John Smokey Elmira, New York

I'm known as Old John Smokey and people round these parts know me for my spoontastic bonanza of blues music.

contact / help

Contact Old John Smokey

Streaming and
Download help

Shipping and returns

Report this track or account

If you like Old John Smokey, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Beans joins the show to discuss his album release, "ZWAARD".

listen now