From Proceedings of the Third Annual Convention of the Roadmasters' Association of America (Chicago: Railway Age Publishing Company, 1885), page 100:


THE LITTLE RED CABOOSE BEHIND THE TRAIN.
Air—"The Little Old Log Cabin in the Lane."

1. I am a jolly brakeman, and squeezing wheels my trade,
While running on the road both day and night;
Throwing switches, pulling pins, as we switch about our train
And seeing that the couplings are all right.
We must always be on hand, when called to go out on the road,
No matter, in the sunshine, or the rain,
And the leisure moments that we have, we pass away below,
In the little red caboose behind the train.

CHORUS: The brake-shoes are worn out,
The wheels are pounding down,
She is loaded down with links, pins and chains,
And there's danger all around, if you lay down to sleep,
In the little red caboose behind the train.

2. Our red lights we hang each side, another one behind,
As days pass off and night is coming on;
And the boys who ride ahead, must keep a sharp look-out behind,
To see that all our trains a-coming along.
And as we near a station, you are startled from your thoughts,
By the sound of the shrill whistle's scream;
And you'll skip out on the "hurricane," and leave the "con" behind,
In the little red caboose behind the train.

CHORUS, etc., etc.