Wreck of Old '97

Well they gave him his orders in Munroe, Virginia
 Saying Steve you're a way behind time,
 this is not 38 but it's old 97
 you must put her into Spencer on time.
 Well he turned to the black greasy fireman and said
 just shovel on a little more coal
 and when we cross that wide open mountain
 you can watch old 97 roll.
 It's a long, long way from Danville to Lynchburg
 got a line near a three mile grade,
 it was on that grade that he lost his air breaks
 you could see what a jump that he made.
 He was going down the grade doing 90 miles an hour,
 when the whistle broke into a scream.
 He was found in the wreck with his hand on the throttle
 and scalded to death by the steam.
 Well a telegram came to Washington station
 and this is what it read;
 For that brave engineer that runs old 97
 well he's line in old anvil dead
 Now come on you ladies and from me take warning
 and from this day on you must learn,
 Never speak harsh words to your kind hearted husband
 he may leave you and never return