In the late '60s and early '70s, Baez came into her songwriting own, penning many songs (most notably "Diamonds & Rust," a nostalgic piece about her ill-fated romance with Bob Dylan, and "Sweet Sir Galahad," a song about sister Mimi Fariña's ( of Richard & Mimi Fariña fame) second marriage, and continued to meld her songcraft with topical issues. She was outspoken in her disapproval of the Vietnam war and later the CIA-backed coups in many Latin American countries.
She was also instrumental in the Civil Rights movement, marching with Dr. Martin Luther King on many occassions and being jailed for her beliefs. In 1963, her performance of "We Shall Overcome" at the Lincoln Memorial just prior to Dr. King's famous "I Have A Dream..." speech helped confirm the song as the Civil Rights anthem.
In December 1972, she traveled to Hanoi, North Vietnam, and was caught in that country's "Christmas Campaign," in which the U.S. bombed the city more times than any other during the entire war. While pregnant with her only son, Gabriel, she performed a handful of songs in the middle of the night on day one of the 1969 Woodstock festival. She is considered the "Queen of Folk" for being at the forefront of the 1960s folk revival and inspiring generations of female folksingers that followed. Over fifty years after she first began singing publicly in 1958, Joan Baez continues to tour, demonstrate in favor of human rights and nonviolence, and release albums for a world of devoted fans.
1959
Engine 143
Joan Baez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Running o'er the C and O road just twenty minutes behind
Running into Cevile head porters on the line
Receiving their strict orders from a station just behind
Georgie's mother came to him with a bucket on her arm
Saying my darling son be careful how you run
For many a man has lost his life in trying to make lost time
Up the road he darted against the rocks he crushed
Upside down the engine turned and Georgie's breast did smash
His head was against the firebox door the flames are rolling high
I'm glad I was born for an engineer to die on the C&O road
The doctor said to Georgie my darling boy be still
Your life may yet be saved if it is God's blessed will
Oh no said George that will not do I want to die so free
I want to die for the engine I love one hundred and forty three
The doctor said to Georgie your life cannot be saved
Murdered upon a railroad and laid in a lonesome grave
His face was covered up with blood his eyes they could not see
And the very last words poor Georgie said was nearer my God to thee
The song "Engine 143" by Joan Baez tells the tragic tale of a train engineer, Georgie, who loses his life in a train accident. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the events leading up to the accident and the emotions Georgie experiences in his final moments. As the F15, the fastest train on the line, races down the C&O road, Georgie's mother warns him to be careful, as many men have lost their lives in trying to make lost time. Despite her warning, Georgie pushes the engine to the limit, ultimately crashing and dying in the wreckage.
The lyrics are full of powerful imagery, referencing flames and blood as Georgie meets his end. And yet, amid the tragedy, there is a sense of honor and duty in Georgie's decision to give his life for the "engine I love." In this way, the song becomes a tribute to the bravery and sacrifice of those who work in the transportation industry.
Overall, "Engine 143" is a haunting and deeply moving piece that captures both the danger and the allure of a life on the rails.
Line by Line Meaning
Along came the F15 the swiftest on the line
A fast train named F15 arrived on the railroad.
Running o'er the C and O road just twenty minutes behind
It was running along the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad route only 20 minutes behind schedule.
Running into Cevile head porters on the line
The train passed by the head porters in Cevile station on the railroad track.
Receiving their strict orders from a station just behind
The porters received their orders from a nearby station behind them.
Georgie's mother came to him with a bucket on her arm
Georgie's mother arrived with a bucket held in her arm.
Saying my darling son be careful how you run
His mother advised him to be careful while running his work.
For many a man has lost his life in trying to make lost time
Many people died while trying to make up for lost time.
And if you run your engine right you'll get there just on time
Running the engine correctly will ensure arriving on time.
Up the road he darted against the rocks he crushed
Georgie drove the train ahead and collided with the rocks causing them to break into pieces.
Upside down the engine turned and Georgie's breast did smash
The train turned upside down and Georgie's chest was crushed and hurt.
His head was against the firebox door the flames are rolling high
Georgie's head hit the firebox door and the flames were high.
I'm glad I was born for an engineer to die on the C&O road
Georgie was happy to work as an engineer and wanted to die while serving on the C&O railroad.
The doctor said to Georgie my darling boy be still
The doctor advised Georgie to rest still and not move.
Your life may yet be saved if it is God's blessed will
If God wills, Georgie may recover and live.
Oh no said George that will not do I want to die so free
But Georgie refused the offer to live and wanted to die a free death.
I want to die for the engine I love one hundred and forty three
Georgie wanted to sacrifice his life for the engine he loved, Engine 143.
The doctor said to Georgie your life cannot be saved
The doctor declared that Georgie's life could not be saved.
Murdered upon a railroad and laid in a lonesome grave
Georgie was murdered on the railroad and buried in a lonely grave.
His face was covered up with blood his eyes they could not see
Georgie's face was covered in blood and he couldn't see with his eyes.
And the very last words poor Georgie said was nearer my God to thee
Georgie's last words were to get closer to God after his death.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: A.P. CARTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Allie
When I was a kid this is the only song that could make me fall asleep. Her voice is so good!
Arnold Amaral
Allie Zerr it is IT IS my friend. 👸 Arnold Bourbon Amaral
Ron Seymour
I have just found this and thank you so much. I originally heard this in the 60's but not since when I gave the LP away to my girlfriend at the time. It has often been in my head but never heard. I love her music and it unlike me is timeless.
Chantal Figeat
Thanks so much for posting this. It's an old favourite of mine and I've been wanting to hear her guitar work on it for quite awhile.
Vicki Hafer
Thanks for sharing. Joan is always special to hear, and to hear her singing a Carter Family song is a tribute to them both.
Meri Rowe
Oh my sweet God!! I loved this song SO much when I was 6!!! My Dad used to play it for me and I would sing my heart out!!! :-)
Ishiro
Música perfeita
Abdul Myrkudov
Dear Chantal Figeat, it is my honor and obligation to make good music (previously non-existing on youtube) widely available to the public.
Johnny Acevedo
My sister Irene used to baby sit her child Gabriel in 1969 and 1970 what a trip this is one of my favorite songs of Joan
FITZIEBLUE
memories....thanks