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Way Out in Idaho 
Way Out in Idaho 
Come all you jolly railroad men, and I'll sing you if I can Of the trials and tribulations of a godless railroad man Who started out from Denver his fortune to make grow, And struck the Oregon Short Line way out in Idaho.
 Chorus: Way out in Idaho, way out in Idaho, A-workin'on the narrow-gauge, way out in Idaho. 
I was roaming around in Denver one luckless rainy day When Kilpatrick's man, Catcher, stepped up to me and did say, "I'll lay you down five dollars as quickly as I can And you'll hurry up and catch the train, she's starting for Cheyenne." 
He laid me down five dollars, like many another man, And I started for the depot as happy as a clam; When I got to Pocatello, my troubles began to grow, A-wading through the sagebrush in frost and rain and snow. 
When I got to American Falls, it was there I met Fat Jack, He said he kept a hotel in a dirty canvas shack. "We hear you are a stranger and perhaps your funds are low Well, yonder stands my hotel tent, the best in Idaho." 
I followed my conductor into his hotel tent, And for one square and hearty meal I paid him my last cent But Jack's a jolly fellow, and you'll always find him so, A-workin'on the narrow-gauge way out in Idaho. 
They put me to work next morning with a cranky cuss called Bill And they gave me a ten-pound hammer to strike upon a drill They said if I didn't like it I could take my shirt and go, And they'd keep my blanket for my board way out in Idaho. 
It filled my heart with pity as I walked along the track To see so many old bummers with their turkeys on their backs They said the work was heavy and the grub they couldn't go Around Kilpatrick's tables way out in Idaho. 
But now I'm well and happy, down in the harvest camps, And there I will continue till I make a few more stamps; 
I'll go down to New Mexico and I'll marry the girl I know And I'll buy me a horse and buggy and go back to Idaho. 
From Our Singing Country, Lomax Note See also State of Arkansas tune: slight variant on Son of a Gambolier