John R. "Johnny" Cash (February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003), was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. Although he is primarily remembered as a country music icon, his songs and sound spanned many other genres including rockabilly and rock and roll—especially early in his career—as well as blues, folk, and gospel. This crossover appeal led to Cash being inducted in the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and Gospel Music Hall of Fame.
Cash was known for his deep, distinctive bass-baritone voice; for the "boom-chicka-boom" sound of his Tennessee Three backing band; for his rebelliousness, coupled with an increasingly somber and humble demeanor; for providing free concerts inside prison walls; and for his dark performance clothing, which earned him the nickname "The Man in Black". He traditionally started his concerts by saying, "Hello, I'm Johnny Cash." and usually following it up with his standard "Folsom Prison Blues".
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 ya 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 ya say?
How much longer will it be till I can
see the light of day?
When we hit Dixie will 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 puffin' smoke,
and I have to strain my eyes.
But ask that engineer if he will
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 alot,
and I didn't mind the fare.
I'm gonna set my feet on Southern soil
and breathe that Southern air.
Hey Porter, hey Porter, would you tell me the time
How much longer will it be 'til we cross that Mason-
Dixon line
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, what time did you say
How much longer will it be 'til I can see the light of
When we hit Dixie would you tell that engineer to slow
it down
Better still just stop the train 'cause I'd like to
look around
Hey Porter, hey Porter, it's gettin' light outside
This old train is puffin' smoke and I have to strain my
eyes
But ask that engineer if he would blow his whistle
please
I smell frost on cotton leaves and I feel that southern
breeze
Hey Porter, hey Porter, 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 gettin' close to home so take it easy on the
steam
Hey Porter, hey Porter, please open up the door
When they stop this 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 fair
Gonna set my feet on southern soil and breathe that
southern air
Hey Porter, hey Porter, would you tell me the time
How much longer will it be 'til we cross that Mason-
Dixon line
When we hit Dixie would you tell that engineer to ring
his bell
Ask everybody that ain't asleep to stand right up and
Written by John R. Cash
Hey Porter, hey Porter, would you tell me the time
How much longer will it be 'til we cross that Mason-Dixon line
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, what time did you say
How much longer will it be 'til I can see the light of day
When we hit Dixie would you tell that engineer to slow it down
Better still just stop the train 'cause I'd like to look around
Hey Porter, hey Porter, it's gettin' light outside
This old train is puffin' smoke and I have to strain my eyes
But ask that engineer if he would blow his whistle please
I smell frost on cotton leaves and I feel that southern breeze
Hey Porter, hey Porter, 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 gettin' close to home so take it easy on the steam
Hey Porter, hey Porter, please open up the door
When they stop this 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 fair
Gonna set my feet on southern soil and breathe that southern air
Hey Porter, hey Porter, would you tell me the time
How much longer will it be 'til we cross that Mason-Dixon line
When we hit Dixie would you tell that engineer to ring his bell
Ask everybody that ain't asleep to stand right up and yell
(Johnny Cash)
(C) - (G) - (F)
(C) Hey, Porter, Hey Porter! Would you tell me the (F) time?
(C) How much longer will it be 'til we cross that (G) Mason Dixon Line? (C)
At daylight would you tell the engineer to slow it (F) down;
Or better still, just stop the train 'cause I (G) wanna look a (C) round.
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 ya tell the engineer to ring his bell;
And tell everybody that ain't asleep to stand right up and yell.
Hey, Porter! Hey, Porter! Please, go on and get my bags for me,
I don't need nobody to tell me now that I'm in Tennessee.
We're not so far from home, you know, and it's a-getting light outside
This old train is a-puffin' smoke and I have to strain in my eyes
Hey Porter! Hey Porter! Please open up the door.
When they stop this train I'm gonna get off first 'cause I can't wait no more.
Tell the engineer I say, ";Thanks a lot. And I didn't mind the fare.
I'm gonna set my feet on Southern soil, I'm gonna breathe the Southern air.";
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 want to 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 tell that engineer to ring the bell
And ask everybody that ain't asleep to stand right up and yell
[ guitar ]
Hey porter hey porter it's gettin' light outside
This old train is puffing smoke and I have to strain my eyes
But ask that engineer if he will blow his whistle please
Cause I smell frost on cotton leaves and I feel that southern breeze
Hey porter hey porter please take my bags from me
I need nobody to tell me that we're in Tennessee
Go tell that engineer to make that lonesome whistle scream
I know we're not too far from home so take it easy on the steam
[ steel ]
Hey porter hey porter please open up the door
When they stop this train I'm gonna get off first cause I can't wait no more
Tell that engineer I said thanks a lot I didn't mind the fare
I'm gonna set my feet on southern soil and breathe that southern air
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 ya 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 ya say?
How much longer will it be till I can
see the light of day?
When we hit Dixie will 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 puffin' smoke,
and I have to strain my eyes.
But ask that engineer if he will
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 alot,
and I didn't mind the fare.
I'm gonna set my feet on Southern soil