Wreck of the Number Nine

On a cold winter night
Not a star was in sight
An' the north wind came
Howlin' down the line
With his sweetheart, so dear
Stood a brave engineer
With his orders to pull ole number nine
She kissed him goodbye
With tears in his eyes
An' a joy in her heart
She couldn't hide
For the whole world was bright
When she told him that night
Tomorrow she'd be his blushin' bride

As the wheels hummed the song
As the train rolled along
An' the black smoke come pourin' from the stack
As the headlight a gleam
Seemed to brighten' his dream
For tomorrow he'd be comin' back
He speed up the hill
But his brave head was still
For the headlight was shining in his face
He whispered a prayer
As he threw on the air
For he knew it would be his final race

In the wreck he was found
Lying there on the ground
An' he ask them to raise his weary head
As his breath slowla went
This message he sent
To the maiden who thought that they'd be wed
Have a little white home
That I bought for our own
Where I'd dreamed we'd be happy, bye an' bye
But I leave it to you
For I know you'll be true
Till we meet at the Golden Gate, goodbye