Lyrics Engine 143 - Joan Baez

Along came the FFV, the swiftest on the line
Runnin' o'er the C&O road just twenty minutes behind
Runnin' into Sou'ville 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
She said, "My darlin' son, be careful how you run
There's many-a-man has lost his life in tryin' to make lost time
But if you run your engine right, you'll get there just on time"

Up the track she darted, into a rock she crushed
Upside down the engine turned and Georgie's breast did smash
His head lay against the firebox door, the flames were rollin' high
I'm proud to be born for an engineer and C&O road to die

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

And the doctor said to Georgie, "Your life cannot be saved"
Murdered upon a railway 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 cried were, "Nearer, my God to thee"