Well, he gave his orders at Monroe, Virginia
Saying, "Steve, you're away behind time
This is not 38, but she's Old 97
You must put her into Spencer on time."
Well, he turned and he said to his tired, greasy fireman
"Shovel on a little more coal
And when we cross that White Oak Mountain
You can watch Old 97 roll."
Well, it's a mighty rough road from Lynchberg to Danville
A line on a three-mile grade
It was on this grade that he lost his average
You can see what a jump he made
He was going down the grade a-making ninety miles an hour
His whistle broke into a scream
They found him in the wreck with hand on the throttle
He was scalded to d**h by the stream
Now, ladies, well, you must take warning
From this time now and learn
Never speak harsh words to your true loving husband
He may leave you and never return