Engine 143

[Verse 1]
Along came the FFV the swiftest on the line
Running o'er the C&O 'road just twenty minutes behind
Running into Seville Headquarters on the line
Receiving very strict orders from a station just behind

[Verse 2]
Georgie's mother came to him with a bucket on her arm
Sing my darling son be careful how you run
For many a man has lost his life in trying to make lost time
And if you run your engine right you'll get there just on time

[Verse 3]
Up the track she darted, against the rocks she crashed
Upside down the engine turned and Georgie's breast did smash
His head was against the firebox door, the flames were rolling high
I'm glad I's born for an engineer to die on the C&O 'road

[Verse 4]
The doctor said to Georgie "My darling boy be still
Your life may yet be saved if it's God's blessed will"
"Oh no" said George, "that will not do, I want to die so free
I want to die for an engine I love, one hundred and forty three"

[Verse 5]
The doctor said to Georgie, "Your life cannot be saved"
Murdered upon a railroad and laid in a lonesome grave
His face was covered up with blood, his eyes they could not see
And the very last words poor Georgie said was "Nearer my God to thee"