Lyrics: Johnny Cash. Personal File. The Engineer's Dying Child.
A little child on a sickbed lay
And death was very near
He was the pride and the only child
Of a railroad engineer
His duty had called him from those he loved
And seeing that hope was dim
While a tear he shed to his wife, he said
?Just have two lanterns trimmed"
Just hang a light when I pass tonight
Hang it where it can be seen
If the baby's dead then show the red
If he's better then show the green
In a little shack by the railroad track
A mother with watchful eyes
Saw a gleam of hope in a tender smile
As the train went rushing by
Just one short look was his only chance?
To see the light a gleam
In the midnight air, there rose a prayer
Thank God the light was green
Just hang a light when I pass tonight
Hang it where it can be seen
If the baby's dead then show the red
If he's better then show the green
And death was very near
He was the pride and the only child
Of a railroad engineer
His duty had called him from those he loved
And seeing that hope was dim
While a tear he shed to his wife, he said
?Just have two lanterns trimmed"
Just hang a light when I pass tonight
Hang it where it can be seen
If the baby's dead then show the red
If he's better then show the green
In a little shack by the railroad track
A mother with watchful eyes
Saw a gleam of hope in a tender smile
As the train went rushing by
Just one short look was his only chance?
To see the light a gleam
In the midnight air, there rose a prayer
Thank God the light was green
Just hang a light when I pass tonight
Hang it where it can be seen
If the baby's dead then show the red
If he's better then show the green
Cash Johnny
Personal File
Cash Johnny
Other performers
Popular requests