Ramblin' Jack Elliott - Engine 143 lyrics

Along came the FFV, the swiftest on the line Running o'er the C&O road just twenty minutes behind Running into Seville head quarters on the line Receiving very 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 But if you run your engine right, you'll get there just on time Up the road he darted against the rocks he crashed Upside down the engine turned and Georgie's breast did smash His head was against the firebox door, the flames were rolling high I'm glad I's born for an engineer to die on an old sea 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, cried George that will not do, I'd 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 may not be saved Murdered upon a railroad and laid in a lonesome grave His face was covered up in blood and his eyes they could not see And the very last words poor Georgie said was nearer my God to thee