Engine 143

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[Verse]
A                       D              A
Along came the FFV the swiftest on the line
A                            B7                E
Running o'er the C&O road just twenty minutes behind
A                           D               A
Running into Sou'ville headquarters on the line
A                                     E              A
Receiving their strict orders from a station just behind


[Verse]
A                                    D             A
Georgie's mother came to him with a bucket on her arm
A                          B7            E
Saying my darling son be careful how you run
A                                   D                    A
For many a man has lost his life in trying to make lost time
A                                        E                 A
And if you run your engine right you'll get there just on time


[Verse]
A                      D                   A
Up the road he darted against the rocks he crashed
A                                 B7                   E
Upside down the engine turned and Georgie's breast was smashed
A                                D                            A
His head lay against the firebox door the flames were rolling high
A                                          E           A
I'm glad to be born for an engineer on the C&O road to die


[Verse]
A                             D               A
The doctor said to Georgie my darling boy lie still
A                                B7               E
Your life may yet be saved if it is God's blessed will
A                                    D              A
Oh no said George that will not do I want to die so free
A                                        E                 A
I want to die with the engine I love one hundred and forty three


[Verse]
A                               D               A
The doctor said to Georgie your life cannot be saved
A                            B7                 E
Murdered upon a railroad and laid in a lonesome grave
A                                      D                   A
His face was covered up with blood his eyes they could not see
A                                             E                A
And the very last words poor Georgie said was nearer my God to thee