Cat. #0785 (MFH #34) - As sung by Ollie Gilbert, Mountain View, Arkansas on June 25, 1969
VERSE 1
On a dark stormy night, as th train rattled on
All th passengers d'all gone t' bed
'Cept one young man with a baby in his arms
Who sit with a bowed down head
VERSE 2
Th innocent babe begin to cry
Just like it's poor heart would break
The angry man said, make th babe hush its noise
It's keeping us all awake
VERSE 3
Put it off, said another, don't keep it in here
We paid for 'r birth an' want rest
Not a word, th man said, with a bowed down head
But folded it close to his breast
VERSE 4
As th train sped onward, a husband set in tears
Thinking of th happaness, just of a few spent years
Babies face brings pictures of a cherry hope thats fled
Baby cry's cain't waken her, in th baggage coach ahead
VERSE 5
Go take it to its Mother wherever she may be
A lady softly said,
I wish I could, was th young man's reply
She's dead in th coach ahead
VERSE 6
Every woman arose to assist with th child
Wives an' mothers on th train
Soon th baby was asleep in th young man's arms
Not a word or fonder thing
VERSE 7
Now, God had sent them a sweet little babe
Their happy young lives to bless
Every heart seemed t' bread, when he mantioned her name
In tear trys, he told them th rest
VERSE 8
As th train sped onward, a husband set in tears
Thinking of th happaness, just of a few spent years
Babies face brings pictures, of a cherry hope that's fled
Baby crys, caint wakin her, in th baggage coach ahead
VERSE 9
Every eye was with tears when th story was told
Of a wife who was beautiful an' true
How he'd saved his earnings for a year
Just t' build up a home for two
VERSE 10
Next morning at th station he bid them adieu
God bless you all, he said,
Everyone had a story to tell in their homes
Of th bagg-age coach ahead