They gave him his orders at Monroe Virginia

Sayin' Steve you're way behind time

This is not 38 but it's old 97

You must put her into Spencer on time



He looked round and said to his black greasy fireman

Shovel on a little more coal

And when we cross that White Oak Mountain

You can watch old 97 roll

[ harmonica - fiddle ]

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 airbrakes

And see what a jump we made

[ dobro ]

He was goin' down the grade making ninety miles an hour

When his whistle began to a scream

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

And scalded to death by the steam

[ fiddle ]

So come all you ladies you must take a warning

From this time on and learn

Never speak harsh words to your true loving husband

He may leave you and never return