Hey porter, hey porter, would you tell me the time?
how much longer will it be till we cross that Mason Dixon line?
At daylight would you tell that engineer to slow it down
or better still, just stop the train, 'cause I wanna look around

Hey porter, hey porter, what time did you say?
how much longer will it be till I can see the light of day?
When we hit Dixie, would you tell that engineer to ring his bell
and ask everybody that ain't asleep to stand right up and yell

Hey porter, hey porter, it's getting light outside
this old train is puffing smoke and I have to strain my eyes
but ask that engineer if he'd blow his whistle please
'cause I smell frost on cotton leaves and I feel that Southern breeze

Hey porter, hey porter, please get my bags for me
I need nobody to tell me now that we're in Tennessee
go tell that engineer to make that lonesome whistle scream
we're not so far from home, so take it easy on the steam

Hey porter, hey porter, please open up the door
when they stop the train, I'm gonna get off first, 'cause I can't wait no more
tell that engineer I said thanks a lot, and I didn't mind the fare
gonna set my feet on Southern soil and breathe that Southern air

Return to Johnny Cash lyrics.
Return to main page.