I've Been Working On The Railroad

by American Folk Song

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Lyrics

I’ve been work ing on the rail road, (Bb)all the live long (F)day.

I’ve been work ing on the rail road, just to (G7)pass the time a (C7)way.

Can’t you hear the whis tle (F)blow in’?

(Bb)Rise up so ear ly in the (A)morn.

(Bb)Can’t you (G7)hear the cap tain (Bbm)shout ing, (F)“Di nah, blow (C7)your (F)horn!”

Di nah, won’t you blow, (Bb)Di nah, won’t you (G)blow, (C)Di nah, won’t you (C7)blow your (F)horn?

(F)Di nah, won’t you blow, (Bb)Di nah, won’t you (G)blow, (C)Di nah, won’t you (C7)blow your (F)horn?

Some one’s in the kitch en with Di nah.

Some one’s in the kitch en I (C)know.

(F)Some one’s in the kitch en with (Bb)Di (Bdim7)nah, (C7)strum min’ on the old ban (F)jo and sing in’, “Fee, fi, fid dle ee i o, fee, fi, fid dle ee i (C)o.

(F)Fee, fi, (Bdim7)fid dle ee i o,” (C7)strum min’ on the old ban (F)jo.

I've Been Working On The Railroad by American Folk Song — Easy Piano for Kids

This page shows “I've Been Working On The Railroad” by American Folk Song in our color-coded kid songbook view — every note is colored by pitch (red C, orange D, yellow E, green F, blue G, purple A, pink B) and the lyrics sit directly under each note, so children can sing along while they play. The song is in the key of Bb at 120 BPM, a comfortable easy-level arrangement perfect for first-time learners.

Tips for parents & teachers

  • Start at 50% tempo using the BPM control. Speed up only when your child can play through without stopping.
  • Turn on the metronome from the top bar to build steady rhythm.
  • Use the segmented OFF / C / 1 button to toggle note labels on the staff and keys — kids learn note names faster with letters showing.
  • Tap a measure number on the timeline to jump to a specific section for repeat practice.

Frequently asked questions

Is "I've Been Working On The Railroad" good for a child learning piano?
Yes — this color-coded arrangement is designed for ages 4-12. Each note is colored by pitch so kids match colors to keys, no music reading required. Lyrics sit under every note for sing-along play.
What age can start with "I've Been Working On The Railroad"?
Children as young as 4 can follow the color-coded notes. By age 6-7 most kids can play through the song themselves with light guidance. Parent help is recommended for the first few sessions.
Do we need a piano teacher to use this?
No — the color-coded format is designed to be self-explanatory. Parents with no music background can supervise. Teachers can also use it as an introductory lesson tool.
Can we print the sheet music?
Yes — tap "Download Sheet Music" above for a free printable PDF with the same color-coded notes that appear on screen.