[Verse 1]
Wish I had listened to, oh, what mama said
Wish I had listened to, oh, what mama said
I wouldn't be here lying in this cold iron bed

Well, my mama told me, my papa told me too
My mama told me, papa told me too
I shouldn't be here to sing these railroad blues

[Instrumental Break]

[Verse 2]
Mister jailer go away now, don't tell me no lies
Mister jailer go away now, don't tell me no lies
The train's going down and she's going down the line

I asked the judge now, what might be my fine
I asked the judge now, what might be my finе
Ninety years on the Rocky Island Linе

[Verse 3]
Wish I had listened to, oh, what mama said
Wish I had listened to, oh, what mama said
I wouldn't be here lying in this cold iron bed
Well, I went to the depot, I never got there on time
Went down to the depot, never got there on time
The train's going down, she's going down the