They give him his orders at Monroe Virginia Saying Steve you're way behind time This is not 38 but this is Old 97 Put her in Spencer on time Then he looked around and said to his black greasy fireman Just shovel on a little more coal And when we cross that White Oak Mountain You can watch Old 97 roll And when a telegram comes from Washington Station And this is how it read Oh that brave engineers that run old 97 Is lying in old Danville dead He was going down grade making 90 miles an hour When his whistle broke into a scream He was found in the wreck with his hand on the throttle And was scalded to death by the steam Now ladies you must take warning From this time on and learn Never speak harsh words to your true loving husband He may leave you and never return