LIFE IS LIKE A MOUNTAIN RAILROAD,
WITH AN ENGINEER THAT'S BRAVE.
WE MUST TAKE THE RUN SUCCESSFUL,
FROM THE CRADLE TO THE GRAVE.
WATCH THE CURVES, THE HILLS, THE TUNNELS,
NEVER FALTER, NEVER QUAIL.
KEEP YOUR HAND UPON THE THROTTLE,
AND YOUR EYES UPON THE RAIL.
BLESSED SAVIOR, THOU WILT GUIDE US,
TIL WE REACHED THAT BLISSFUL SHORE.
WHERE THE ANGELS WAIT TO JOIN US,
IN THY PRAISE FOREVER MORE.
YOU WILL ROLL UP GRADES OF TRIAL,
YOU WILL CROSS THE BRIDGE OF STRIFE.
SEE THAT CHRIST IS YOUR CONDUCTOR,
ON THIS LIGHTNING TRAIN OF LIFE.
ALWAYS MINDFUL OF OBSTRUCTION,
DO YOUR DUTY, NEVER FAIL.
KEEP YOUR HAND UPON THE THROTTLE
AND YOUR EYES UPON THE RAIL.
BLESSED SAVIOR, THOU WILT GUIDE US,
TIL WE REACHED THAT BLISSFUL SHORE.
WHERE THE ANGELS WAIT TO JOIN US,
IN THY PRAISE FOREVER MORE.
AS YOU ROLL ACROSS THE TRESTLE,
SPANNING JORDON'S SWELLING TIDE.
YOU BEHOLD THE UNION DEPOT,
INTO WHICH YOUR TRAIN WILL GUIDE.
WITH THE HEARTY, JOYOUS PLAUDIT,
"WEARY PILGRIM, WELCOME HOME!"
ELIZA R. SNOW WROTE THE POETIC VERSES TO THIS OLD SONG MANY YEARS BEFORE M.E. ABBEY,
A BAPTIST PREACHER, ADDED THE CHORUS.
CHARLES D. TILLMAN WROTE THE MUSIC.
TILLMAN AND ABBEY TOOK THE CREDIT FOR
"LIFE'S RAILWAY TO HEAVEN" IN 1918 WHEN THEY FILLED A COPYRIGHT ON THE SONG.
ELIZA SNOW WAS NOT MENTIONED IN THE DOCUMENT.
This page was last updated on: February 22, 2008
