Well they gave him his orders at Monroe, Virginia
they said Steve, you're way behind time
this is not '38, this is old '97
you must put her into Spencer on time

Then he turned around and said to his black greasy fireman
hey, shovel on a little more coal
and when we cross that White Oak Mountain
watch old '97 roll

It's a mighty rough road from Lynchburg to Danville
in a line on three mile grade
it was on that grade that he lost his air breaks
see what a jump he made

He was goin' down the grade making ninety miles an hour
his whistle broke into a scream
he was found in the wreck with his hand on the throttle
scalded to death by the steam

Then a telegram came to Washington station
this is how it read
oh that brave engineer who ran old '97
is lying in ol' Danville, dead

So all you ladies, you'd better 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

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