They gave him his orders at Monroe, Virginia
They said, "Steve you're way behind time
This is not '38, this is old '97
Put her into Spencer on time"
Then 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 old '97 roll"

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 brakes
You see what a jump he made
He was goin' down the grade makin' 90 miles an hour
His whistle broke into a scream
He was found in the wreck with his hand on the throttle
Scalded to death by the steam

Well now, all you ladies, you better take a warnin'
From this time on and learn
Never speak harsh words to your true lover husband
He may leave you and never return