Well, they gave him his orders in Monroe, Virginan,
Said:"Steve, you're way behind time,
"This is not 38, this is Ol'97,
"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 reach that White Oak mountain,
"Watch Ol'97 roll."
And then a telegran come from Washington station,
This is what it read:
"Oh that brave engineer that run '97,
"Is lyin' in Danville dead."
"Cos he was going down a grade making 90 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 steam."
One more time!
Oh, now all you ladies better take a warning,
From this time on and learn.
Never speak harsh to your true-lovin' husband,
He may leave you and never return.