Railroad Blues (previously Unreleased) Lyrics - Beastie Boys

All aboard, track seventeen, all aboard 

Yeehaw 

This song is dedicated to all the hardworking pioneers of this country 

Settin' out discoverin' the West 

Bringing the railroad to where no man has ever been before 

Johnny - he worked on the railroad, pounding on iron and steel 

Working his way out west now, the only sure thing's his next meal 

America was young, but she was a-growing 

Layin' tracks across the prairie, not knowing where they're goin' 

His mama didn't want him leaving, but now he's headin' out west 

She said, "Please, don't go." But he said "If I don't, I'll never rest." 

It wasn't always easy: some of the boys died 

Johnny wrote her letters, but he received no replies 

Johnny - he worked on the railroad, pounding on iron and steel 

Working his way out west now, the only sure thing's his next meal 

Johnny reached San Francisco tired and broke without a dime 

Started panning for gold just a-hoping he would find 

The gold wasn't a-rushin', but Johnny kept on minin' 

Trying to send his mama somethin' with the letters he was signin' 

And one day Johnny finally got a reply 

When he opened Mama's letter, he began to cry 

She's a-writing from her deathbed, and this is what she said: 

"Please, don't be mad at me, son, 'cause tomorrow I'll be dead." 

Johnny - he worked on the railroad, pounding on iron and steel 

Working his way out west now, the only sure thing's his next meal 

Ah-ha! 

Ah-ha! 

Ha!