I've Been Working on the Railroad - Song Page

Background

Trains are magical for children.  They take you places near and far.  They travel on tracks and make a rhythmic chugging sound as they move.  The start slow and slowly get faster and faster up to blinding speeds.  They travel over water on high bridges and through tunnels cut into mountains.

I've Been Working on the Railroad has many fun elements to sing about including working hard to keep the train running, blowing the train whistle and the seemingly abstract reference to Dinah in the kitchen with someone strumming a banjo and singing fee, fie, fiddly-i-o.  

UNITS:  This song is a great accompaniment to lessons on transportation and travel.

WHAT YOU'LL HEAR IN THE SONG:  

LYNN STEIN vocals
JOHN HART acoustic guitar
STEVEN ROUES harmonica and acoustic bass
JEFFREY FRIEDBERG banjo
ROGER COHEN drums

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Greg Talenfeld, owner of OK Records, hard at work making our album sound great! Thanks Greg.

Video - intro
(full video coming soon!)

Order "I've Been Working 
on the Railroad"

Order Song, Album & More

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Lessons, Lyrics & More

"I've Been Workin' on the Railroad" -
guitar lesson

Activity Suggestions

1. Give children maracas or tambourines and ask them  to make the "chug chug" rhythmic sound of train wheels with their instruments

2. Teach the lyrics and sing along with the recording while playing maracas or tambourines

3. After each "Dinah, won't you blow" line, each child raises one arm and pretends to pull an imaginary train whistle and says "whooo!"

Alternate Activity: Children form a human train by standing in a line behind each other and putting both hands on the shoulders of the person standing in front of them.  Sing the song as the conductor leads the train around the room.  Have the children take turns being the conductor.

guitar chords

Don't be intimidated by all these chords!  Once you get the song in your head you'll hear how the chords fit in.  It may take a while (weeks, months, or years) to learn but once you have it you'll love singing and strumming this one!

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Lyrics

I've been working on the railroad
All the live-long 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
Strummin' on the old banjo!

Singin' fee, fie, fiddly-i-o
Fee, fie, fiddly-i-o-o-o-o
Fee, fie, fiddly-i-o
Strummin' on the old banjo.