Well, they gave him his orders in Monroe
Virginian
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 cross that White Oak mountain
"Watch Ol'97 roll"
And then a telegram come
From Washington station this is how it read
"Oh that brave engineer that run '97
"Is lyin' in Danville dead"
"Cause 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"
One more time! Oh, now all you ladies you
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 poor Boy
I want to thank you yeah
It's good to see you