[Verse]
D G D
A little child on a sickbed lay
G D
And death was very near
G D
He was the pride and the only child
E7 A
Of a railroad engineer
D
His duty had called him from those he loved
G D
And seeing that hope was dim
G D
While a tear he shed to his wife, he said
A D
Just have two lanterns trimmed"
[Chorus]
G D
Just hang a light when I pass tonight
A
Hang it where it can be seen
D G
If the baby's dead then show the red
D A D
If he's better then show the green
[Verse]
D G D
In a little shack by the railroad track
G D
A mother with watchful eyes
G D
Saw a gleam of hope in a tender smile
E7 A
As the train went rushing by
D
Just one short look was his only chance?
G D
To see the light a gleam
G D
In the midnight air, there rose a prayer
A D
Thank God the light was green
[Chorus]
G D
Just hang a light when I pass tonight
A
Hang it where it can be seen
D G
If the baby's dead then show the red
D A D
If he's better then show the green