The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #5550   Message #1487007
Posted By: Scoville
17-May-05 - 11:38 PM
Thread Name: 'Mother Songs' of the tear-jerker variety
Subject: Lyr Add: IN THE BAGGAGE COACH AHEAD (G. L. Davis)
Lyrics below are from the sheet music at the University of Maine:

IN THE BAGGAGE COACH AHEAD
Words and music by Gussie L. Davis, ©1896.

1.On a dark stormy night as the train rattled on, all the passengers had gone to bed,
Except one young man with a babe in his arms who sat there with a bowed-down head.
The innocent one began crying just then, as though its poor heart would break.
One angry man said, "Make that child stop its noise, for it's keeping all of us awake."
"Put it out," said another. "Don't keep it in here; we've paid for our berths and want rest."
But never a word said the man with the child, as he fondled it close to his breast.
"Where is its mother? Go take it to her," this a lady then softly said.
"I wish that I could," was the man's sad reply. "But she's dead in the coach ahead."

CHORUS: While the train rolled onward, a husband sat in tears,
Thinking of the happiness of just a few short years,
For baby's face brings pictures of a cherished hope that’s dead,
But baby's cries can't waken her in the baggage coach ahead.

2. Ev’ry eye filled with tears when his story he told, of a wife who was faithful and true.
He told how he'd saved all his earnings for years, just to build up a home for two;
How when Heaven had sent them this sweet little babe, their young happy lives were blessed.
His heart seemed to break when he mentioned her name, and in tears tried to tell them the rest.
Ev’ry 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 a station he bade all goodbye; "God bless you," he softly said.
Each one had a story to tell in the home of the baggage coach ahead.