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."