Marcie

• Last seen on Jul 29 7:45 AM 2006. Member since July 29, 2006.

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• on Hellbound Train by Anonymous Americas, on July 29, 2006

  Loved it!

  July 29, 2006
  
  Hello Sherry,
  
  My Grandfather used this poem in his sermons back in the 1920's. As a couple people had mentioned there are some variations to this poem. This is the version he had in his bible.
  
  Tom Gray lay down on the bar room floor
  He drank so much he couod drink no more
  So he gell to sleep with a troubled brain
  An dreamed that he rode on a Hell-Bound Train
  The engine with blood was red and damp
  For fuel and imp was shoveling bones
  While from the fiery furnace rang a million groans.
  
  The boiler was filled with larger beer
  And the Devil himself was the engineer
  The passengetrs were a motely crew
  Church-members, atheist, Gentile, and Jew
  Rich men and poor men and begger in rags
  Yellow and black men and brown and white
  Were all chained together, what a terrible sight.
  
  Thre train dashed on at a terrible pace
  The hot ashes scorched the hands and face
  Faster and faster the engine flew
  Wilder and wilder the country grew
  Brighter and brighter the lightning flashed
  Louder and louder the thunder crashed
  Hotter and hotter the air became
  Until it burned the clothes from each quivering frame.
  
  And there was heard in the distance a horrilbe yell
  Ha! Ha! Laughed the Devil, we are nearing Hell
  Then oh, how the passengers shrank in their pain
  And begged the Devil to stop the train
  But he capered about and sang in his glee
  And said,"This is your pay for serving me."
  You have murdered the weak and robbed the poor
  The starving brother turned from your door.
  
  You have laid up gold which canker and rusts
  And given free vent to your fleshy lust
  You have drank, and rioted, and murdered, and lied
  And mocked at God in your Hell-Bound pride
  You have paid full fare so I'll carry you through
  It is only just you should get your due
  Why, every laborer expects his hire
  So I'll land you safe in the lake of fire.
  
  Tom awoke with a sudden cry
  His brow was wet with sweat
  And his hair standing on end
  And he prayed as he never prayed before
  God save me from drink and the Devil's hirer
  And Tom Gray's prayers were not in vain
  For that day he got off the Hell-Bound Train.
  
  
  The wording of this poem seems more appropriate for the time frame of the late 1800's and early 1900's. The stanza are longer. I am not sure how or where it things got changed but my copy is at least a 100 years old.
  
  Sincerely,
  Marcie
  Bershire, New York