Lyrics:

They gave him his orders at Monroe, Virginia
Sayin', 'Steve, you're way behind time'
'This is not 38 but this is old 97'
'You must put her in Spencer on time'
He looked around and said, to his black, greasy fireman
'Just shovel on a little more coal'
'And when we cross that White Oak Mountain'
'You can watch old 97 roll'
He was goin' down the grade, makin' 90 miles an hour
When his whistle began to scream
He was found in the wreck, with his hand on the throttle
And was scalded to death with steam
It's a mighty rough road from Lynchburg to Danville
With a line on a three-mile grade
It was on this grade, that he lost his air brakes
And he seen what a jump he made
He was goin' down the grade, makin' 90 miles an hour
When his whistle began to scream
He was found in the wreck, with his hand on the throttle
And was scalded to death with steam

So, come on you ladies, you must 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