Cover art for Hey Porter by Johnny Cash
Jun. 21, 19551 viewer15.9K views

Hey Porter Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Hey porter, hey porter!
Would you tell me the time?
How much longer will it be 'til 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 want to look around

[Verse 2]
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, will you tell that engineer
To ring his bell?
And ask everybody that ain't asleep
To stand right up and yell

[Verse 3]
Hey porter, hey porter!
It's getting 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
[Verse 4]
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

[Break]

[Verse 5]
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 a lot
And I didn't mind the fare
I'm going to set my feet on Southern soil
And breathe that Southern air

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About

This song bio is unreviewed
Genius Annotation

Tells the story of an excited passenger on board a train traveling to Tennessee, who also continually asks the Porter for updates. This was Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two’s first recording, it was recorded on September 1, 1954 and was released May 21, 1955.

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

What did Johnny Cash say about "Hey Porter"?
Genius Answer

I wrote ‘Hey Porter’ when I was overseas. That was my homesick song for the South.

Johnny Cash
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