When they give him his orders at Monroe, Virginia Sayin', "Steve, you're way behind the times This is not 38, this is Old 97 So get here in Spencer, on time" Well he turned around his head, said to his old greasy fireman "Shovel on a little more coal When we cross that big White Mountain You'll be watchin' Old 97 start to roll" ♪ Well it's a mighty long road from Lynchburg down to Danville On a line of three-mile grade It was on that grade that he lost his airbrakes You should have seen the jump he had to make He was goin' down grade at 90 miles an hour When his whistle broke into a scream He was found in the wreck with his hand on the throttle Was scalded to death by the steam ♪ When the telegram came from Washington city And this is how the telegram read "That the brave engineer in the old 97 Is laid out in Danville and he's dead" ♪ Now all of you ladies take heed and take warning And try to learn never speak harsh words Against your loving husband 'Cause he may never return No he may never return