Well, they gave him his orders at Monroe, Virginia.

Said, "Steve, you're way behinf time.

This is not Thirty-Eight, this is old Ninety-Seven.

Put her into Spencer on time."

Then he turned around 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 a telegram comes from Washington Station,

This is how it read:

"Oh, that brave engineer that run old Ninety-Seven

Is lyin' in old Danville dead."

'Cause he was goin' down a grade makin' niety miles an hour,

The whistle broke into a scream.

He was found in the wreck with his hand on the throttle,

Scalded to death by the steam. One more time!

Well, now, all you ladies, you better take the warnin'

From this time on and learn.

Never speak hard words to your true lovin' husband.

He may leave you and never return. Poor boy.