Wreck of the Old '97
Well, they gave him his orders in Monroe, Virginan
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 reach that White Oak mountain
"Watch Ol'97 roll"
And then a telegram come from Washington station
This is what it read:
"Oh that brave engineer that run '97
"Is lyin' in Danville dead"
"'Cause 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
One more time!
Oh, now all you ladies better take a warning
From this time on and learn
Never speak harsh to your true-lovin' husband
He may leave you and never return
Poor boy