Cat. #0760 (MFH #198) - As sung by Ollie Gilbert, Mountain View, Arkansas on May 26, 1969
VERSE 1
Along came th F.F.E.
Th swiftest on th line
Running o'er th C n' O road
Just twenty minutes behind
Running thru Seville headquarters, on th line
A try'n t' make a starter
From an engine just behind
VERSE 2
George's Mother, h'd come to him
With a bucket on her arm
Saying, my darling son,
Be careful how you run
For many of a man has lost his life
In try'n to make lost time
But, if you run your engine right
You'll get there just on time
VERSE 3
Up th road he darted
Against a rock he crushed
Upside down, the engine turned
An' George's breath was smashed
His his head lay beneath th firebox door
Th flames was rolling high,
I'm glad I'se borned for an engineer
To die on th C n' O road
VERSE 4
Th doctor says to Georgie,
My darling boy be still
Your precious life, it may be saved
If it is God's blessed will
O no, said George, that will not do
I want to die so free
I want to die for th engine I love
One-hundred an' forty-three
VERSE 5
Th doctor says to Georgie
Your life cannot be saved
Murd'r upon th railroad
An' laid in a lonesome grave
His face was covered up in blood
His eyes, you couldn't see
Th last word, poor Georgie said,
Was, near my God to thee