A dramatic ballad with a young heroine, 1897 words and music by Chas. Shackford
Sheet Music
Lyrics
Refrain:
Asleep at the switch, and no warning light
To signal those trains, that rushed through the night
When down to the switch, ran Tom’s daughter Nell
The crisis had past, his boy would get well
She caught up the light, and waved it on high
And sidetracked the westbound freight
And the midnight express all in safety flew by
While Tom was asleep at the switch
Refrain:
Asleep at the switch, the president read
“And my wife and child were on board,” he said
But as he read on, his stern face relaxed
“This road shall reward such heroic acts”
He sat at his desk and he fill’d out a check
And sent it with all dispatch
‘Twas for Tom’s daughter, Nell, for her brave deed that night
While he slept his last sleep at the switch