The Carter Family – Engine 143 (Guitar)

                       D               A
Along came the F15 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

                                    D             A
Georgie’s mother came to him with a bucket on her arm

                         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

                                        E                 A
And if you run your engine right you’ll get there just on time

                       D                   A
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

                              D              A
The doctor said to Georgie my darling boy be still

                                 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

                                        E                 A
I want to die for the engine I love one hundred and forty three

                                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