Well they gave him his orders at Monroe, Virginia,
Said: Steve, you're way behind time,
This is not 38, this is Ol' 97,
Put her into Spencer on time.
Then he turned around and said to his black, greasy fireman,
Shovel on a little more coal.
And when we cross that White Oak mountain,
Watch Ol' '97 roll.
And then a telegram come from Washington station,
This is how it read:
Oh that brave engineer that run ol 97,
Is lyin in old Danville dead.
'Cos he was going down a grade making 90 miles an hour,
The whistle broke into a scream.
He was found in the wreck with his hand on the throttle,
Scalded to death by the steam.
One more time!
Oh, now all you ladies you'd better take a warning,
From this time on and learn.
Never speak hard words to your true-lovin' husband.
He may leave you and never return.
Poor Boy.
