They gave him his orders at Monroe Virginia
Sayin' Steve you're way behind time
This is not 38 but this it's old 97
You must put her in Spencer on time

He turned around and said to his black greasy fireman
Just shovel on a little more coal
And when we cross that White Oak Mountain
You can watch old 97 roll

He was goin' down the grade makin' 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

It's a mighty rough road from Lynchburg to Danville
With a line on a three mile grade
It was on this grade that he lost his air brakes
And he see what a jump we made

He was goin' down the grade...
[ harmonica ]
So come on you ladies you must take a warning
From this time on and learn
Never speak harsh words to your true loving husband
He may leave you and never return