On a Cold Winter's Night
C F
On a cold winter's night, not a star was in sight
C G7
And the north wind kept howlin' down the line
C F
With his sweetheart so dear stood a brave engineer
C
G7 C
With his orders to pull old Number Nine
G7 C
He kissed her goodbye with a tear in her eye
C G7
For the joy in his heart he could not hide
C F
And the whole world seemed bright when she told him that night
C G7 C
That tomorrow she'd be his blushing bride
As the train rolled along and the wheels hummed a song
And the black smoke came pouring down the stack
His headlight that gleamed seemed so bright as he dreamed
Of tomorrow when he'd be coming back
Round the corner of the hill his brave heart stood still
A headlight was shining in his face
He whispered a prayer as he threw on the air
For he knew that would be his final race
In the wreck he was found laying there on the ground
And he asked them to raise his weary head
And his breath slowly went; it was a message he sent
To a maiden who thought that she'd be wed
"There's a little white home that I bought for our own
Where I knew we'd be happy bye and bye
Oh I leave it to you for I know you'll be true
Till we meet at the Golden Gates, Goodbye."
DT #668
Laws G26
From J.E. Mainer's Mountaineers Smokey Mountain Balladeers
RPf
Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!