Engine 143

Along came the F15 the swiftest on the line Running o'er the C and 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 --- Engine 143 - Joan Baez