They gave him his orders at Monroe, Virginia
Saying "Steve, you're way behind time
It's 8:38 and it's the Old '97
Gotta put her into Danville on time"

Well, it's a mighty rough road from Lynchburg down to Danville
On a line with a three-mile grade
It was down that line where he lost his air-brakes
You can see what a jump he made

Steve Brady, he said to his black, greasy fireman
"Shovel on a little more coal"
I'm waiting to pass them wide-open mountains
Gonna see the Old '97 roll

Well, it's a mighty rough road from Lynchburg down to Danville
On a line with a three-mile grade
It was down that line where he lost his air-brakes
You can see what a jump he made

He's coming down that line, making ninety miles an hour
The whistle broke into a scream
They found him in the wreck with his hand upon the throttle
He'd been scalded to death by steam

Well, it's a mighty rough road from Lynchburg down to Danville
On a line with a three-mile grade
It was down that line where he lost his air-brakes
You can see what a jump he made

Well, come on now, all you ladies
From this time on, now learn
Don't you ever say harsh words to your true-loving husband
He'll leave you and never return

Well, it's a mighty rough road from Lynchburg down to Danville
On a line with a three-mile grade
It was down that line where he lost his air-brakes
You can see what a jump he made

Well, he's coming down that line, making ninety miles an hour
And the whistle broke into a scream
They found him in the wreck with his hand upon the throttle
He'd been scalded to death by steam

Well, it's a mighty rough road from Lynchburg down to Danville
On a line with a three-mile grade
It was down that line where he lost his air-brakes
You can see what a jump he made

Well, it's a mighty rough road from Lynchburg down to Danville
On a line with a three-mile grade
It was down that line where he lost his air-brakes
You can see what a jump he made

Well, it's a mighty rough road from Lynchburg down to Danville
On a line with a three-mile grade
It was down that line where he lost his air-brakes
You can see what a jump he made