The Wreck Of The Old '97

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."

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 pass them wide-open mountains;

Gonna see the Old '97 roll."

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 death by steam.

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 pass them wide-open mountains;

Gonna see the Old '97 roll."

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.

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 pass them wide-open mountains;

Gonna see the Old '97 roll."

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 death by steam.

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 pass them wide-open mountains;

Gonna see the Old '97 roll."