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