The Carter Family – Engine One-Forty-Three (Guitar)

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Along came the FFV, the swiftest on the line

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Running o’er the C&O road just twenty minutes behind

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Running into Cevile, head porters on the line

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Receiving their strict orders from a station just behind

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

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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

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

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Up the road he darted against the rocks he crushed

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Upside down the engine turned and Georgie’s breast did smash

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His head was against the firebox door, the flames are rolling high

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I’m glad I was born for an engineer to die on the C&O road

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The doctor said to Georgie my darling boy be still

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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

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

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The doctor said to Georgie your life cannot be saved

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Murdered upon a railroad and laid in a lonesome grave

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His face was covered up with blood his eyes they could not see

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And the very last words poor Georgie said was nearer my God to thee