Lyrics:

Well 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'

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 ol 97
'Is lyin' in old 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'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
Poor boy