They gave him his orders at Monroe Virginia sayin' Steve you're way behind time This is not 38 this is old 97 put her into Spencer on time Well he turned around and said to his big greasy fireman Hey shovel on a little more coal And when we cross that White Oak Mountain watch old 97 roll [ guitar ] It's a mighty rough road from Lynchburg to Danville in a line on a three mile grade It was on that grade that he lost his air brakes see what a jump we made He was goin' down the grade making 90 miles an hour His whistle broke into a scream He was found in the wreck with his hand on the throttle A scalded to death by the steam Now all you ladies you better take a warning from this time on and learn Never speak harsh words to your true lovin' husband He may leave you and never return
