Engine 143

Along came the FFV, the swiftest on the line
Runnin' o'er the C&O road just twenty minutes behind
Runnin' into Seville headquarters on the line
Receiving their strict orders from a station just behind

Georgie's mother came to him with a bucket on her arm
Sayin' my darlin' son, be careful how you run
It's many a man who's lost his life just tryin' to make lost time
And if you run your engine right, you'll get there just on time

Up the road he darted, against the rocks he crushed
Upside down the engine turned and Georgie's breast it smashed
His head was against the firebox door, the flames were rollin' high
I'm glad I was born for an engineer to die on the C&O road

The doctor said to Georgie, my darlin' boy lie still
Your life may yet be saved if it is God's blessed will
Oh no, said George, that will not do, I want to die so free
I want to die for the engine I love, one-hundred and forty-three

The doctor said to Georgie, your life may not be saved
Murdered upon a railroad and laid in a lonesome grave
His head was covered up in blood and his eyes they could not see
And the very last words poor Georgie spoke was nearer my God to thee