Engine 143

Dave Alvin ~ Engine 143

Along came the F15, the swiftest on the line
Running o'er the C&O road, just twenty minutes behind
Runnin' 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 darlin' son be careful how you run
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 tracks 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 were rollin' high
I'm glad I was born an engineer, on the 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, 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
The very last words poor Georgie said was "nearer my God to thee"