Well, they gave him his orders at Monroe, Virginia

said, "Steve you're way behind time.

This is not Thirty-Eight; this is old Ninety-Seven,

so put her into Spencer on time."



Then he turned and said to his black, greasy fireman

"Shovel on a little more coal

and when we cross that White Oak Mountain,

watch old Ninety-Seven roll"



And then the telegram came from Washington station

and this is how it read:

"Oh that brave engineer that ran old Ninety-Seven 

is lying in old Danville dead"



'Cause he was going down the grade makin' ninety miles an hour

when the whistle broke into a scream

He was found in the wreck, with his hand on the throttle,

scalded to death by the steam



Now all you ladies you better take warnin'

from this time on and learn

Never speak harsh words to a true lovin' husband

he may leave you and never return



'board 'board



Yodel-ay-hee hee hee hee hee hee