Walkabouts Wreck Of The Old No.9
T'was a cold wintry night Not a star was in sight And he north wind was howling down the line Went a brave engineer With a sweetheart so dear With an order to pull Old # 9. His heart hung with his song And his train rolled along Black smoke was pouring from his stack His headlight it seemed To brighten his dream Of tomorrow, when he'd be coming back Well he sped round the hill And his brave heart stood still A headlight flashing in his face He threw only air And he murmured a prayer 'Cause he knew this would be his final race (The crash...) In the wreck he was found Lying dying on the ground And he asked them to raise his weary head As his breath slowly went This message he sent To the maiden who thought she would be wed "I leave a white home That I bought for your own And I dreamed we'd be happy by-and-by. I'm gonna leave it all to you 'Cause I know that you'll be true 'Til we meet at the pearly gates -- good-bye."
