The F.F.V.

Intro Music: G / Cmaj7 / G / C / Dm / G / Dm / G / Dm / G / C -> to poem

Along came the F.F.V., the swiftest on the line
She was runnin' down the C&O road, just twenty-five minutes behind
Runnin' into Sewall, the headquarters on the line
And receivin' very strict orders from the station right behind
Georgie's mother came to him, her bucket on her arm,
And she said 'My darlin' son, be careful how you run,
There's many a man that's lost his life just tryin' to make lost time
But if you run your engine right you'll get there right on time.'
Up the tracks she darted and into a rock she crashed
Upside down the engine turned and poor Georgie's head was smashed
His head lay 'gainst the firebox door and the flames were runnin' high
And he said 'I'm proud to be born for an engineer with C&O road to die.'
The doctor said to Georgie 'My darlin' boy be still.
Your life may yet be saved, if it is God's precious will.'
'Oh no,' cried he, 'that will not do, I'd rather die so free.
I want to die for the engine I love: one hundred and forty-three.'
The doctor said to Georgie 'Your life cannot be saved.'
He was murdered on a railway and laid in a lonesome grave
And his eyes were covered up with blood, and his eyes they could not see
So the very last words poor Georgie cried were, 'Nearer my God to thee.'

Traditional, arranged by Michael Nesmith