Suatu malam yang gelap dan penuh badai saat naik turun;
Railroad Bill, the engineer said, “Boy, we'll have to fly!”
Railroad Bill, insinyur itu berkata, “Wah, kita harus terbang!”
We've got to be on time, to meet old Number Four.
Kita harus tepat waktu, untuk bertemu dengan Nomor Empat yang lama.
So sling the coal, we'll make it, boy, or never ride no more.
Jadi selempang batu bara, kita akan membuatnya, Nak, atau tidak pernah naik lagi.
While in the rear boxcar, a lonely hobo lay,
Sementara di dalam boxcar belakang, seekor burung layang kesepian terbaring,
Heading for his mother dear, who on her death-bed lay;
Menuju ibunya sayang, yang di ranjang kematiannya terbaring;
He raised a weary hand, to brush away a tear,
Dia mengangkat tangan yang letih, untuk menyeka air mata,
Not knowing his last drive was run, and Fate was drawing near.
Tidak tahu drive terakhirnya dijalankan, dan takdir mendekat.
When through the darkened night, a headlight bright did gleam,
Saat melewati malam yang gelap, lampu sorot bersinar terang,
O'er the roar of rolling wheels, a whistle load did scream;
O’er gemuruh roda bergulir, ada muatan peluit yang berteriak;
As down around the curve, the mighty train did roar,
Saat menuruni tikungan, kereta yang hebat itu mengaum,
With black smoke rolling from the stack, came Flyer Number Four.
Dengan asap hitam bergulir dari tumpukan, muncullah Flyer Number Four.
Then came an awful crash! Their last long drive was run,
Lalu terjadilah kecelakaan yang mengerikan! Perjalanan terakhir mereka yang terakhir dijalankan,
On the track the hobo lay, his days of life were done;
Di lintasan, si pengembara terbaring, hari-hari hidupnya telah selesai;
And as the golden sun, sank slowly to the west,
Dan seperti matahari keemasan, tenggelam perlahan ke barat,
His dear old mother gently smiled, and closed her eyes in death.
Ibu tua tercintanya dengan lembut tersenyum, dan memejamkan mata saat meninggal.