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