Lonnie Donegan - Rock Island Line

[glenscott1]

Whee king of skiffle go

[TheDigger211]

a great enternaier

[gemlove81]

I love the way he sings in this version. You can really hear the railway, it is so exciting. I would like to have heard the verse with the driver saying "that before I die there are 2 more drinks that I would like to try...a hot cuppa coffee and a cold glass o tea." Bless him!

[UB40Tribute]

Johnny cash did a good version but i still prefer Loniies version x

[bananarama471]

I came here because of the book "The Love you Make" Its a book about the Beatles

[RingoGeorgeJohnPaul2]

@bananarama471 i came here cause of the Beatles too. I was wondering what the song was cause they sang it in their early years.

[colindaleradiosutch]

THIS IS SKIFFLE, THIS IS LONNIE DONOGAN. ONE OF THE BEST ARTISTS OF HIS GENERATION.

[Quarryman99]

No wonder 1000s of teenagers started forming their own skiffle bands once they'd heard this! Thank you Lonnie, for inspiring the Beatles. :D

[ocarrington]

Ok now I know what skiffle is, Thank you for posting

[arrowhead5543]

0:57 You have discovered Railroad

[richmeister1]

This Cat is a STAR and virtually unheard of across the pond in the U.S........

instead they stick us with Britney &^%%$^&s...and the like.....low class.

[MVillani1985]

@richmeister1 What's sad is that the only skiffle song well known in the US is "Love Me Do" by the Beatles from 62, which came at the end of the skiffle craze, and that's only because the Beatles became popular in 64. But thanks to YouTube, everyone can discover these old gems. You should also check out the Vipers Skiffle Group and the Five Chesternuts.

[rmbion]

@richmeister1

I used to get up to go to high school with this tune on the radio. I think that was 1954 It was the first hit for Donegan.

He followed that one with a string of hits: he was a star back then. His fate he shares with so many old timers; they're forgotten.

[LARUSSALVAT]

This is the best recording of "Rock Island Line" made by Lonnie Donnegan available on Youtube!

Thanks a lot for sharing this gem with us!

[Elmware]

That train looks like one of those trains they drive into mines to bring the ores out or blasting equipment in or whatever. Usually they don't have a cabin though.

[iggyshwartz]

It drives me nuts that skiffle never gets the credit it deserves. The Beatles roots were as much skiffle as anything else.

[rossnamba]

this song is great, it reminds me of my grandad dancing xD hehe

[ClTIZEN]

love this song :) thanks for sharing

[englishtwister]

I would like to ask what railways is this and where is it located as it looks like England.

[Paulustrious]

It's Talyllyn in Wales (which is not England). It's a slate train. There were a number of them in North Wales, those that remain are now just tourist attractions.

[grahamgregson]

close enough , Jack!!!!

[DADRENO]

Actually - it is the 'Chicken Shit' Railway in Lincolnshire!

i.e. North Ings Farm, Dorrington.

[DADRENO]

p.s. see the link/tag

[Paulustrious]

Sorry - thought I recognised it. Wrongly it appears.

[threecardmontegirl]

I love this sons,reminds me of being a kid as my mum loved it!

[coworth33]

@threecardmontegirl

My mum did not like it...she would let me buy it!!

[nidgybaby]

Pete Townsend said Lonnie Donegon greatly influenced the WHO Listening to this i can see why. The very roots of British rock music And i love it....

[theshedforeman]

whats the railwy?

[DADRENO]

North Ings Farm, Dorrington, Lincolnshire.

[titigrette]

J'adore cette chanson ! Mais je n'ai jamais vu des images qui allaient aussi mal avec une chanson ^^ lol c'est intenable !

[Annieneuf]

La chanson est au sujet d'une ligne ferroviaire ...:)

[dualta13]

I used to live in that caravan!

[Annieneuf]

I think I did too:)

[XonValdise]

this is (in ones opinion) the best version.

[pawpawbear02]

lonnie was so great ment so much to me

[izzyrules97]

you guys that like this song, you sould look up"robbob80" and its staffy music montage and it has that song in it!!! it is really cute too!!!

[superhooper1983]

I've got a different version of this song where he sustains the 'ole pig iron' part.

[clipside]

love this song

[brenkei]

forgot how good lonnie was great

[bmw630d]

lovely song ;;

[ginge4747]

Prefer the Johnny Cash one myself, but this is alright

[burdlow]

Prefer it by Bobby Darin

[peteyiddy1882]

did lonnie sing football crazy?

[DelTangBrav]

did lonnie sing football crazy? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To the best of my knowledge he didn't but he did in 1966 record a song called "World Cup Willie" which contained some strong similarities. I think it was The Spinners who had the biggest impact with the original.

[jaz88pa]

KING OF SKIFFLE!

[Alabammy3]

This is the song that started it all , Lonnie was so good !!!

[fcaberdeen]

the man was a god

[tomtesticle]

underestimated lonnie number

[maltkilnlane]

This is the original version, thought I would never hear it again. Donegan sold the rights for £10 after they had recorded it.

[Frontera3]

Thanks for this - Donegan at his best.Interesting video too!

[maolchalium]

Nice one. Interesting hearing the different versions of this number.