Engine 143 - Ralph Stanley Lyrics
Engine 143
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
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