The Wreck on the Southern Old 97

[Verse 1]
They give him his orders at Monroe, Virginia
Sayin' "Steve, you are way behind time
This is not 38, but it's Old '97
You must put her in Spencer on time"

[Verse 2]
He looks and says to his black, greasy fireman
"Get shovelin' a little more coal
And when we cross that White Oak Mountain
You can watch Old '97 roll"

[Verse 3]
It's a mighty rough road from Lynchburg to Danville
And a line on a three-mile grade
It was on that grade that he lost his air brakes
And you see what a jump he made

[Verse 4]
He was goin' downgrade makin' 90 mile an hour
When his whistle begin to scream
He was found in the wreck with his hands on the throttle
And a-scalded to death with the steam

[Verse 5]
Young ladies, you must take warnin'
From this time now and on
Never speak hard words to your true-lovin' husband
He may leave you and never return