They gave him his orders at Monroe, Virginia Sayin' "Steve, you're way behind time; It's 8:38, and it's the Old '97; Gotta put her into Danville on time." Chorus: Well, it's a mighty rough road from Lynchburg down to Danville On a line with a three-mile grade; It was down that line where he lost his air-brakes; You can see what a jump he made Steve Brady he said to his black, greasy fireman "Shovel on a little more coal; I'm waitin' to pa** them wide-open mountains; Gonna see the Old '97 roll." (Chorus) He's comin' down that line makin' ninety miles an hour; The whistle broke into a scream; They found him in the wreck with his hand upon the throttle; He'd been scalded to d**h by steam (Chorus) Well, come on now, all you ladies; From this time on, now learn; Don't you ever say harsh words to your true-lovin' husband; He'll leave you and never return (Chorus) (Instrumental bridge) Well, he's comin' down that line makin' ninety miles an hour; And the whistle broke into a scream; They found him in the wreck with his hand upon the throttle; He'd been scalded to d**h by steam (Chorus thrice)