They gave him his orders at Monroe, Virginia,
Said: "Steve, you're way behind time,
"This is not 38, this is Ol' 97,
"Put her into Spencer on time."
Well he turned around and said to his big, greasy fireman,
"Hey shovel on a little more coal.
"And when we cross that White Oak mountain,
"Watch Ol' '97 roll."
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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 airbrake
You see what a jump he made
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 the steam.
Now all you ladies you'd better take a warning,
From this time on and learn.
Never speak hard words to your true-lovin' husband.
He may leave you and never return.