Music You Can Read®

"I've Been Working on the Railroad"
       
     
"I've Been Working on the Railroad"
 


"I've Been Working on the Railroad," Lyrics, Text Format



"I've Been Working on the Railroad," Lyrics, Text Format



"I've Been Working on the Railroad," Lyrics, Text Format



Advanced syncopation, advanced intervals, triplets, repeated
melodic rhythm patterns, and the raised/sharped tonic (Di)
makes this popular folk song fun and challenging.

Click to hear melody.
 


Description
 
  • Grade: Fourth

  • Origin: USA - Folk Song, cir. 1894 Princeton University

  • Key: G Major

  • Time: 4/4

  • Form: by page: 1-A, 2-BC, 3-D; song: ABCD

  • Rhythm: advanced: | ta/ ti ti/ ri ti/ ri | syncopation,
    | ta/a ta/a | ta/ ti ta ta | syncopation, | ta/a/a (ta) |
    | ta/a ta ti/ ri | syncopation, | ta ti/ ri ti/ ri ti/ ri | syncopation, | ti/ ri ti/ ri ta ta | syncopation,
    | ta ta ta/a | ta ta ta ta | ta/a ta/a |
    | ti/ ri ti/ ri ti ti ta | syncopation, | ta/a/a/a |
    | ti-ti-ti ta ta/a | triplets, | ta ta ti-ti-ti ta | triplets,
    | ti ti ti ti ta ta |

  • Pitches: advanced: So La Ti Do Di Re Mi Fa So La - raised/sharped tonic (Di), extended range

  • Intervals: advanced: Do\So/Do, Mi\Do, Do/Fa, Fa\Do, Re\Di/Re, So/Fa, Mi\La, Do\La, Do/Mi, So/Do, La/Re, Re\Ti, Mi\Do\So descending tonic arpeggio, So/Do/Mi ascending tonic arpeggio, Fa/La8

  • Musical Elements: notes: whole, dotted half, half, dotted quarter, quarter, dotted eighth, eighth, sixteenth; rest: quarter; repeated melodic rhythm patterns, advanced syncopation, vocal slurs, triplets

  • Key Words: USA history, glee club song, Princeton University, work song, railroad, live-long, pass time away, whistle, blowing, rise up, morn, captain, shouting, blow your horn, kitchen, strumming, banjo; contractions: I've (I have), don't (do not), someone's (someone is); abbreviation: strummin' (strumming)

 
 


"I've Been Working on the Railroad"
     
  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.
Don't you hear the whistle blowing?
Rise up so early in the morn.
Don'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,
 
 
 
  Fee, fi, fiddly-i-o,
Fee, fi, fiddly-i-o,
Fee, fi, fiddly-i-o,
Strummin' on the old banjo.
 
     


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Additional Formats


music

"I've Been Working on the Railroad," Music Format
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"I've Been Working on the Railroad," Music Format
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"I've Been Working on the Railroad," Music Format
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beats

Click to enlarge: "I've Been Working on the Railroad," Beats Format
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Click to enlarge: "I've Been Working on the Railroad," Beats Format
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Click to enlarge: "I've Been Working on the Railroad," Beats Format
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rhythm

Click to Enlarge: "I've Been Working on the Railroad," Rhythm Format
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Click to Enlarge: "I've Been Working on the Railroad," Rhythm Format
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Click to Enlarge: "I've Been Working on the Railroad," Rhythm Format
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pitch numbers

Click to Enlarge: "I've Been Working on the Railroad," Pitch Number Format
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Click to Enlarge: "I've Been Working on the Railroad," Pitch Number Format
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Click to Enlarge: "I've Been Working on the Railroad," Pitch Number Format
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solfeggio

Click to Enlarge: "I've Been Working on the Railroad," Solfeggio Format
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Click to Enlarge: "I've Been Working on the Railroad," Solfeggio Format
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Click to Enlarge: "I've Been Working on the Railroad," Solfeggio Format
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letter names
Click to Enlarge: "" Letter Names Format
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Click to Enlarge: "" Letter Names Format
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Click to Enlarge: "" Letter Names Format
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