They gave him his orders
At Monroe, Virginia
Sayin Pete youre way behind time
This is not 38, but its old 97
You must put her into Spencer on time
He looked round an said
To his black, greasy fireman
Jus shove on in a lil more coal
And when we cross that wide old mountain
You can watch old 97 roll
Its 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 airbrake
And you see what a jump he made
He was goin down the grade
Makin ninety miles an hour
When his whistle broke into a scream
He was found in the wreck
With his hand on the throttle
And a scalded to death by the steam
Now ladies you must take warnin
From this time now and on
Never speak harsh words
To your true love and husband
He may leave you and never return
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