They g ive him his orders at Monroe Virginia
Saying S teve you're way behind t ime
This is n ot 38 but this is O ld 97
P ut her in S pencer on t ime
Then he looked around and said to his b lack greasy fireman
Just s hovel on a little more c oal
And w hen we cross that W hite Oak Mountain
Y ou can w atch Old 97 r oll
And when a telegram comes from W ashington Station
And t his is how it r ead
Oh that b rave engineers that r un old 97
I s lying in old D anville d ead
He was going down grade making 9 0 miles an hour
When h is whistle broke into a s cream
He was f ound in the wreck with his h and on the throttle
And w as scalded to d eath by the s team
Now ladies you must t ake warning
From t his time on and l earn
Never s peak harsh words to your t rue loving husband
H e may leave you a nd never r eturn