Well, they gave him his orders at Monroe, Virginia
Said, Steve you're way behind time
This is not Thirty-Eight; this is old Ninety-Seven,
So put her into Spencer on time
Then he turned and said to his black, greasy fireman
Shovel on a little more coal
And when we cross that White Oak Mountain,
Watch old Ninety-Seven roll
And then the telegram came from Washington station
And this is how it read:
Oh that brave engineer that ran old Ninety-Seven
Is lying in old Danville dead
'Cause he was going down the grade makin' ninety miles an hour
When the whistle broke into a scream
He was found in the wreck, with his hand on the throttle,
Scalded to d**h by the steam
Now all you ladies you better take warnin'
From this time on and learn
Never speak harsh words to a true lovin' husband
He may leave you and never return
'Board 'board
Yodelay he, he, he, he, he, he