On a dark and stormy night
Not a star was in sight
And the north wind come howlin' down the line
With his sweetheart so dear
Stood a brave engineer

With his orders to pull ol' no 9
With a tear in her eye
She kissed him goodbye
And the joy in his heart he could not hide

And the whole world seemed bright
As she told him that night
That tomorrow she'd be his blushing bride
Well the wheels hummed a song

As the train rolled along
And the black smoke came pouring from the stack
And the headlight agleam
Seemed to brighten his dream

Of tomorrow when he'd be going back
As he rounded the hill
His brave heart stood still
For a headlight was shining in his face

And he uttered a prayer
As he threw on the air
For he knew had run his final race

In the wreck he was found
Lying there on the ground
And he asked them to raise his weary head
As his breath slowly went

This is the message he sent
To the maiden who thought that she'd be wed
There's a little white home
I have bought for our own

Where I dreamed we'd be happy by and by
And I leave it to you
For I know you'll be true
Till we meet at that golden gate goodbye