Working for the railroad, working all night and day
Working for the railroad, working my life away
Well, I gotta get some money, take these railroad blues away
Working on the railroad, the midday sun on your back
The foreman starts a panic at workers on the railroad track
There's a long black train heading on down the track

Well, roll on, clickety clack
Roll on, clickety clack
Roll on, clickety clack
Roll on, clickety clack
Roll on, roll on, long black train, roll on

We put the rhythm the train as she passes right over the track
Hear the whistle blowing to the sound of the clickety clack
Lord, if I ever come back, please don't let me work on the track

Well, roll on, clickety clack
Roll on, clickety clack
Roll on, clickety clack
Roll on, clickety clack
Roll on, roll on, long black train, roll on

Roll on black train, move on down the line
She'll be rolling into Memphis when the sun begins to die
But I'll be here, just a little further down the line
We put the rhythm the train as she passes right over the track
Hear the whistle blowing to the sounds of the clickety clack
Lord, if I ever come back, please don't let me work on the track

Well, roll on, clickety clack
Roll on, clickety clack
Roll on, clickety clack
Roll on, clickety clack
Roll on, roll on, long black train, roll on

Well, roll on, clickety clack
Roll on, clickety clack
Roll on, clickety clack
Roll on, clickety clack
Roll on, roll on, long black train, roll on