Wreck Of The Old 97

They gave him his orders at Monroe, Virginia
Saying, "Steve, you're way behind time
This is not Thirty-Eight but it is old Ninety-Seven
You must put her into Spencer on time"

He turned and said to his black greasy fireman
Shovel on some more coal
And when we cross that White Oak Mountain
You can watch old Ninety-Seven roll

It's a mighty rough road from lynchburg to danville
And Lima's a three mile grade
It was on this grade when he lost his air brakes
And you see what a job he made

He was going down the grade making ninety miles an hour
When his whistle broke into a scream
He was found in the wreck, with his hand on the throttle
Scalded to death by the steam

Hey, come on, you ladies you must take warning
From this time on and learn
Never speak harsh words to your true loving husband
He may leave you and never return

Never speak harsh words to your true loving husband
He may leave you and never return