"Engine 143" lyrics - RALPH STANLEY

Along came the FFV, the swiftest on the line
Running o'er the C&O road, just twenty minutes behind
Running into Sewall, it's quartered on the line
Receiving their strict orders from the station just behind

Georgie's mother came to him with a bucket on her arm
Said, my darling son, be careful how you run
For a-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

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

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 Georgie, 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 cannot be saved
Murdered upon the railroad and laid in a lonesome grave
His face was covered up with blood
His eyes you could not see
And the very last words poor Georgie said
Was nearer, my God, to Thee