Wreck of the Old 97

Well, they give him his orders in Monroe, Virginia Saying, Steve, you're way behind time. This is not 38, but it's old 97 And you've got to be in Center on time. But he turned around to his black greasy fireman Said, Shovel in a little more coal. When we cross that White Oak Mountain You can watch old 97 roll. Well, it's a mighty rough road from Lakesburg to Danville and a line on a three mile grade It was on this grade that he lost his airbrakes And you see what a jump he made He was a-going down the grade making ninety miles an hour And his whistle broke out in a scream It was on that grade that he lost his airbrakes And you see what a jump he made Well, ladies, you can all take warning From this time now and on Never speak harsh words to your true loving husband He might leave you and never come home He was a-going down the grade making ninety miles an hour And his whistle begin to scream And we found him in the wreck with his hand on his throttle And scalded to death by the steam Well, ladies, you can all take warning From this time now and on Never speak harsh words to your true loving husband He might leave you and never return