Expert: Mel Priddle - 3/29/2007

Question
Mother used to sing us this song about a person on a train, with his wife in the "Baggage Car Ahead" meaning he was taking her body home.  Do you know this song, or the words?  Thank you

Answer
Hello Evan,

I believe this song has more often been known as "The Baggage Coach Ahead", but it is inter-changeable with the other title. Here are the words.......

"The Baggage Coach Ahead"

On a dark and stormy night as the train rolled on
All passengers gone to bed
Except a young man with a babe on his arm
Sat sadly with bowed down head
Just then the babe commenced crying
As though its poor heart would break
One angry man said, "Make that child stop its noise,
For it's keeping us all awake"

"Put it out," said another, "Don't keep it in here
We've paid for our berth and want rest"
But never a word said the man with the child
As he fondled it close to his breast
"Oh where is its mother? Go take it to her"
One lady then softly said
"I wish I could," was the man's sad reply
"But she's dead in the coach ahead"

As the train rolled onward, a husband set in tears
Thinking of the happiness of just a few short years
Baby's face brings pictures of a cherished hope now dead
But baby's cries can't awaken her in the baggage coach ahead

Every eye filled with tears as the story he told
Of a wife who was faithful and true
He told how he'd saved up his earnings for years
Just to build a home for two
How when heaven had sent them their sweet little babe
Their young happy lives were blest
His heart seemed to break when he mentioned her name
And in tears tried to tell them the rest

Every woman arose to assist with the child
There were mothers and wives on that train
And soon was the little one sleeping in peace
With no thought of sorrow or pain
Next morn at the station he bade all goodbye
"God bless you," he softly said
Each one had a story to tell in their homes
Of the baggage coach ahead


Glad to be of help. Cheers.......Mel.