The song was originally called CNR Westbound, a song about travelling by freight train between Winnipeg and Edmonton.

E                                                              A                  E

Rolling across the prairies, and I’m crying out a tune

E                                                              B7       ~C7        B7

Rolling across the prairies, and I’m howling at the moon

.  E                         E7                                     A            A7       E

I had to leave my home back east, I just couldn’t hang around

.                E                                                           B7 C7       B7

Now I’m rolling across the open plains on a CNR westbound

Rolling across the prairies, and I’m moaning out the blues

Rolling across the prairies, under sky-blue prairie hues

I had to leave my home back east, even though I love that town

Now I’m rolling across the open plains on a CNR westbound

Rolling across the prairies, and this train is singing too

Rolling across the prairies, hear the whining woo-hoo-hoo

I had it all at home back east, but things were looking down

Now I’m rolling across the open plains on a CNR westbound

Rolling across the prairies, hear the clicking of the rails

Rolling across the prairies, as the locomotive wails

I’m sad to leave my home back east, but I love these lonesome sounds

Now I’m rolling across the open plains on a CNR westbound

Rolling across the prairies, and those steel wheels start to roar

Rolling across the prairies, as they stand up to the chore

I’m glad I left my home back east, ‘cause now my rhythm has been found

‘Cause I’m rolling across the open plains on a CNR westbound