The Statler Brothers Statler Brothers - The Wreck Of The Old 97 Lyrics

Hey well they gave him his orders at Monroe Virginia
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 black greasy fireman
Shovel on a little more coal
And when we cross that white oak mountain, watch old '97 roll
And then a telegram came to Washington station, this is how it read
It said that brave engineer that done run old '97
He's lying down in Danville dead
'Cause 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
A scalded to death by the steam
So now all you ladies you better take a warnin'
From this time on and learn
Never speak hard words to your true lovin' husband
He may leave you and never return, poor boy