Al Bowen

as done by Almeda Riddle

Twas Christmas eve and the night was dark
Three men had hidden their face
Al Bowen a faithful engineer,went fatefully to his place
Al had a smile, kind words for all
A courteous man was he
His winning ways made many friends, many will agree
Before he made his fateful trip, he cheerfully proclaimed
Goodby, mother dear if I don't come home
I love you just the same
I hate to make my run tonight
My headlights are no good.
I fear some evil may take place
I feel just like it would
But there's no use to be afraid
No extra men have we
I'll do my duty come what may
What is to be will be
He took his seat inside the cab
MacNelly by his side
Keep your seat old boy, he said
We'll take a flying ride
We're thirty minutes late tonight
The cannons' going to swear
He's switching now at the station, Maude
I see his headlights there
Haul in more coal he [lept] he said
We're going to make up that time
To his surprise he saw headlights
Come streaming straight down the line.
That's old number nine good god he said
And she's already round the neck.
Oh jump, Mack jump, I'll stay with her
You'll find me in the wreck.
Beyond he's met with an awful crash
And bursting like a shell.
He roared in flames, he scald in steam
Made it an awful tale.
But Christmas morning the searchers came
And found Al's body there
But his soul had taken it's flight
To religion fields so fair
. And we'll never know the cause of it
But his signal all was given
We hope we know Al's soul's at rest
In that far away peaceful heaven


I couldn't find this variant in the DT. I loved to hear "granny" Riddle sing and sought her out in Arkansas whenever I could...hg