Tom Gray lay down on the barren floor
having drank so much he could drink no more
and fell asleep with a troubled brain
to dream that he rode on the "Hell Bound Train"
the engine with blood was red and damp
and brilliantly lit by a brimstone lamp
an imp for fuel was shoveling bones
as the furnace roared with a thousand groans
the boiler was filled with lager beer
and the devil himself was the engineer
the passengers made such a motely crew
churchmember, atheist, gentile and jew
rich man in boradcloth, beggars in rags
handsome young ladies and withered old hags
yellow and black men, brown, red and white
chained altogether, one horrible sight
faster and faster the engine flew
wilder and wilder the country grew
louder and louder the thunder crashed
brighter and brighter the lightening flashed
Hotter and hotter the air became
till the clothes were burning from each gruesome frame
and in the distance they heard such a yell
HA HA! cried the devil, We're nearing hell.
and oh how the passengers shrieked with pain
and begged the devil to stop the train
but he capered about and danced with glee
and laughed at their agony
my ruthful friends, you've done my work
and the devil himself can never a pay day shirk
you've bullied the weak, you've robbed the poor
and the starving brother have turned from your door
you've gathered the gold where the canker rusts
and given free vent to your fleshly lusts
you've drank and rioted and murdered and lied
and laughed at God in your hell borne pride
you've paid full fare, so i'll carry you through
for it's only rught that you get your due
for every laborer is worth his hire
so i'll land you safe in my lake of fire
where my fiery imps shall torment you forever
and all in vain shall you sigh forever for a Savior
then Tom awoke with an awful cry
his clothes soaking wet and his hair standing high
and he prayed as he never prayed before
to be saved from hell and the devils power
and his praying and crying were not in vain
for he never more rode on the "Hell Bound Train"
