Well they gave him his orders at Monroe Virginia sayin' Steve you're way behind time 

This is not 38 this is old 97 put her into Spencer on time 

Then he turned around and said to his black greasy fireman shovel on a little more coal 

And when we cross that White Oak Mountain watch old 97 roll 



But it's a mighty rough road from Lynchburg to Danville 

With a line on a three mile grade 

It was on that grade that he lost his air brakes 

see what a jump he made 



Then the telegram come to Washington station and this is how it read 

Oh that brave engineer that run old 97 he's a layin' in old Danville dead 

He was goin' down the grade makin' 90 miles an hour his whistle broke into a scream 

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

A scalded to death by the steam 



So now all you ladies you better take a warnin' from this time on and learn 

Never speak harsh words to your true lovin' husband 

He may leave you and never return

Poor boy