[Instrumental Intro]

[Verse 1]
They give him his orders
At Monroe, Virginia
Sayin' Pete "you're way behind time
This is not '38, but it's old '97
You must put her in Spencer on time"

[Verse 2]
He looked 'round an' said
To his black, greasy fireman
"Jus' shove on in a little more coal
And when we cross that wide old mountain
You can watch old '97 roll"

[Instrumental Break]

[Verse 3]
It's 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 air brake
And you see what a jump he made
[Interlude]
*Whistling*

[Verse 4]
He was goin' down grade
Makin' ninety mile an hour
When his whistle broke into a scream *train whistle*
He was found in the wreck
With his hand on the throttle
And a scalded to death with the steam

[Verse 5]
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 *train whistle*

[Instrumental Outro]