Engine One-Forty-Three

A D A E A D A E A

[Verse 1]
 A                       D               A
Along came the FFV, the swiftest on the line
                                E
Running o’er the C&O road just twenty minutes behind
 A                          D            A
Running into Cevile, head porters on the line
                                       E            A
Receiving their strict orders from a station just behind


[Verse 2]
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Georgie’s mother came to him with a bucket on her arm
                                  E
Saying my darling son be careful how you run
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For many a man has lost his life in trying to make lost time
                                  E                        A
And if you run your engine right you’ll get there just on time



[Verse 3]
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Up the road he darted against the rocks he crushed
                                  E
Upside down the engine turned and Georgie’s breast did smash
    A                                       D                 A
His head was against the firebox door, the flames are rolling high
                                        E             A
I’m glad I was born for an engineer to die on the C&O road


[Verse 4]
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The doctor said to Georgie my darling boy be still
                                    E
Your life may yet be saved if it is God’s blessed will
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Oh no said George that will not do I want to die so free
                                        E                  A
I want to die for the engine I love one hundred and forty three


[Verse 5]
   A                            D              A
The doctor said to Georgie your life cannot be saved
                                   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
                                      E                        A
And the very last words poor Georgie said was nearer my God to thee