Working on a railroad for a dollar a day
Working on a railroad for a dollar a day
Working on a railroad, good buddy, for a dollar a day
Gotta get my money, gotta get my pay

Take this hammer, take it to the captain
Take this hammer, take it to the captain
Take this hammer, good buddy, take it to the captain
Tell him I'm gone tell him I'm gone

If he asks you was I running
If he asks you was I running
If he asks you good buddy was I running
Tell him I was flying tell him I was flying

If he asks you was I laughing
If he asks you was I laughing
If he asks you good buddy was I laughing
Tell him I was crying tell him I was crying

This old hammer rings like silver
This old hammer rings like silver
This old hammer good buddy rings like silver
Shine like gold good buddy and it shine like gold

Working on a railroad for a dollar a day
Working on a railroad for a dollar a day
Working on a railroad good buddy for a dollar a day

Gotta get my money, gotta get my pay
Gotta get my money, gotta get my pay
Gotta get my money, gotta get my pay