Number Nine

Cat. #0673 (MFH #704) - As sung by Tom Aley, Ozark, Missouri on February 8, 1969

VERSE 1
T'was a dark an' stormy night
Not a star was in sight
And th north wind come howl'in down th line
With his sweetheart so dear
Stood a brave engineer
With his orders to pull ole number nine

VERSE 2
With a tear in 'er eye
She kissed him goodbye
Th joy in his heart he could not hide
An' th whole world seemed bright
As she told 'im that night
Tomorrow she'd be his blushing bride

VERSE 3
O, th wheels hummed a song
As th train rolled along
An' th black smoke, come apouring from th stack
And th headlight it gleams
Seemed t' brighten his dreams
Of tomorrow when she'd be goin' back

VERSE 4
As he rounded a hill
His brave heart stood still
A headlight was shine'n in his face
An' he uttered a prayer
As he threw on the air
He knew he had run his final race

VERSE 5
In th wreck he was found
Lie'n there on h ground
He ask them, to raise his weary head
As his breath slowly went
This message he sent
To th maiden who thought that she'd be wed

VERSE 6
There's a little white home
I bought for our own
I dreamed we'd be happy bye an' bye
But I'll leave it to you
For I know you'll be true
Till we meet at that golden gate, goodbye

Variants