Joan Baez - Engine 143 lyrics

Engine 143

Along came the F15 the swiftest on the line

Running o'er the C&O road just twenty minutes behind

Running into Cevile head porters on the line

Receiving their strict orders from a station just behind

Georgie's mother came to him with a bucket on her arm

Saying 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

Up the road he darted against the rocks he crushed

Upside down the engine turned and Georgie's breast did smash

His head was against the firebox door the flames are 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 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 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