[Verse 1]
Well, along come the FFV, the swiftest on the line
Running along the C&O 'road twenty minutes behind
Running in the Seville headquarters on the line
Receiving their strict orders from a station just behind

[Verse 2]
Well, George's mother come to him with a bucket on her arm
Saying, "My darling boy, be careful how you run
Well, it's many a man has lost his life in trying to make lost time
But if you run your engine right, you'll make her just on time"

[Verse 3]
Aw, but off of the road she darted and into the rocks she crashed
Well, the engine she laid upside down and George's breast was smashed
Well, his head lay against the firebox door and the flames were rolling high
Well, I'm proud to be born for an engineer on the C&O 'road to die

[Verse 4]
Well, the doctor come to Georgie, my darling boy be still
Well, your life can yet be saved, if it is God's blessed will
Aw, no, no, it will not do, I want to fly so free
Well I want to die with the engine I love, a hundred and forty three

[Verse 5]
Then the doctor said to Georgie, "Well your life cannot be saved"
Murdered out on the railroad, laid in a lonesome grave
But his face was all covered up with blood, his eyes, they could not see
And the very last words that Georgie spoke were "Nearer my God to thee"