I've Been Working On The Railroad
Pete Seeger (Children's) Lyrics


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I've been working on the railroad
All the livelong day
I've been working on the railroad
Just to pass the time away

Can't you hear the whistle blowing
Rise up so early in the morn
Can't you hear the captain shouting
Dinah, blow your horn

Dinah, won't you blow
Dinah, won't you blow
Dinah, won't you blow your horn
Dinah, won't you blow
Dinah, won't you blow
Dinah, won't you blow your horn

Someone's in the kitchen with Dinah
Someone's in the kitchen I know
Someone's in the kitchen with Dinah
Strumming on the old banjo, and singing

Fie, fi, fiddly i o
Fie, fi, fiddly i o




Fie, fi, fiddly i o
Strumming on the old banjo

Overall Meaning

The song "I've Been Working On The Railroad" is a traditional American folk song that tells the story of the toil and hard work that goes into working on a railroad. The first verse sets the scene for the rest of the song, with the singer proclaiming that they have been working on the railroad all day long just to pass the time away. The second verse introduces the sounds of the railroad, such as the whistle blowing and the captain shouting, all to the tune of the popular melody. The chorus calls for Dinah to blow her horn, adding to the general noise and excitement of the railroad.


The final verse turns to a more upbeat tone, mentioning that someone is in the kitchen with Dinah, strumming on an old banjo and singing "fie, fi, fiddly i o". This creates a sense of community and joy, even amidst the hard work of the railroad. The song provides a window into the lives of railroad workers and the importance of music and communal interaction in their world.


Line by Line Meaning

I've been working on the railroad
I have been employed to work on the railroad


All the livelong day
For the entirety of the day, from beginning to end


Just to pass the time away
To kill time or make time go faster


Can't you hear the whistle blowing
Are you unable to hear the sound of the whistle?


Rise up so early in the morn
Waking up very early in the morning


Can't you hear the captain shouting
Are you not able to hear the captain's orders being yelled?


Dinah, blow your horn
Dinah, please play your horn


Someone's in the kitchen with Dinah
Another person is present in the kitchen with Dinah


Someone's in the kitchen I know
I know someone is also in the kitchen


Strumming on the old banjo, and singing
Strumming and playing an old banjo while singing


Fie, fi, fiddly i o
An expression used in a song with no real meaning


Strumming on the old banjo
Playing and strumming an old banjo




Lyrics © HAL LEONARD CORPORATION
Written by: AMERICAN FOLK SONG

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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