Lyrics:

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.