I've Been Working on the Railroad Lyrics

I've Been Working on the Railroad is an American folk song that first appeared in print around 1894, closely tied to the railroad labor culture that shaped much of the country's westward expansion. It suits preschool and early elementary children, roughly ages 3 to 8, and its steady, chugging rhythm naturally lends itself to simple movement, like pumping arms to mimic a train. Early-childhood educators often use work songs like this one because their strong, even beat gives children an easy entry point for keeping time, a foundational skill for later rhythm and music instruction. The song's two contrasting sections, a driving verse followed by the lighter "Dinah" chorus, also give children practice noticing changes in mood and tempo within a single piece of music. As a genuine piece of American folk history, it offers caregivers a natural opening to talk simply about trains and how communities were connected long ago. For more on how classic American folk songs like this one remain popular with children, see [Top 20 Classic Folk Songs for Children](/blog/top-20-classic-folk-songs-for-children).

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!

Fee-fi-fiddly-i-o,
Fee-fi-fiddly-i-o-o-o-o,
Fee-fi-fiddly-i-o,
Strumming on the old banjo!