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.