[Verse 1]
"Jim Blake, your wife is dying" came over the wires tonight
Brought late into his office by a boy most dead with fright
He came rushing into the office, his face was drawn and white
Saying, "Give this to Daddy's engine, for Mother is dying tonight"

[Verse 2]
Jim Blake was the oldest engineer, had charge of the night express
Handled the throttle and lever most all of his life, I guess
And when I found this message was for my comrade Jim
I made no delay but hastened away and sent this message to him

[Verse 3]
In less than half an hour the message come back from him
"Tell wife I'll meet her at midnight, and tell her to pray for Jim"
I left her son in the office, this message I took Jim's wife
I found that dying woman had scarce the breath of life

[Fiddle Solo]

[Verse 4]
And when I entered her chamber, she took me first for Jim
She fell back half exhausted when she found that it was not him
She raised her eyes towards heaven, her face was pale and white
And said in a dying whisper, "God speed the express tonight"
[Verse 5]
Over hill and mountain still rushes the midnight train
Her whistling and her shrieking, resisting an awful strain
Jim Blake is at the lever, a-guiding her dangerous flight
When a voice speaks out of the darkness, "God speed the express tonight"

[Verse 6]
In less than half an hour the train will be along
Hello, there comes the signal saying there is something wrong
It tells of a sad disaster, the train is in the ditch
And the young engineer is dying by the side of an open switch
And here is another message, from the engineer, I guess
"Tell wife I'll meet her in heaven, not to wait for the night express"