Wreck of the Number 9

It was a dark, stormy night, not a star was in sight
And the north wind came howlin' down the line
As the brave engineer, with his sweetheart so dear
With his orders to pull Ole Number 9
Oh, she kissed him goodbye with a tear in her eye
And a joy in her heart, he couldn't hide
And the whole world seemed bright, 'cause she told him that night
That tomorrow she'd be his lovin' bride

Oh, the wheels hummed the song as the train rolled along
Well, the black smoke came pouring out the stack
And the headlights that gleam seemed to brighten his dream
Of tomorrow when he'd be coming back
As he went down the hill, his brave heart stood still
For a headlight was shinin' in his face
And he whispered a prayer as he threw on the air
For he knew that this would be his final race

In the wreckage he was found, lying there on the ground
And reached down to raise his weary head
As his life slowly went, a message he sent
To the sweetheart that he was bound to wed
There's a little white home we call all our own
And I'm going to leave it to you
But I'm leavin' it to you, for I know you will be true
Till we meet in the golden by-and-by
Yes, I'm leavin' it to you, for I know you will be true
Till we meet in the golden by-and-by