Lyrics:

They gave him his orders at Monroe, Virginia,
Sayin Steve, youre way behind time;
Its 8:38, and its the Old 97;
Gotta put her into Danville on time.
Chorus:
Well, its a mighty rough road from Lynchburg down to Danville,
On a line with a three-mile grade;
It was down that line where he lost his air-brakes;
You can see what a jump he made.
Steve Brady he said to his black, greasy fireman,
Shovel on a little more coal;
Im waitin to pass them wide-open mountains;
Gonna see the Old 97 roll.

Hes comin down that line makin ninety miles an hour;
The whistle broke into a scream;
They found him in the wreck with his hand upon the throttle;
Hed been scalded to death by steam.

Well, its a mighty rough road from Lynchburg down to Danville,
On a line with a three-mile grade;
It was down that line where he lost his air-brakes;
You can see what a jump he made.
Steve Brady he said to his black, greasy fireman,
Shovel on a little more coal;
Im waitin to pass them wide-open mountains;
Gonna see the Old 97 roll.

Well, come on now, all you ladies;
From this time on, now learn;
Dont you ever say harsh words to your true-lovin husband;
Hell leave you and never return.

Well, its a mighty rough road from Lynchburg down to Danville,
On a line with a three-mile grade;
It was down that line where he lost his air-brakes;
You can see what a jump he made.
Steve Brady he said to his black, greasy fireman,
Shovel on a little more coal;
Im waitin to pass them wide-open mountains;
Gonna see the Old 97 roll.

Well, hes comin down that line makin ninety miles an hour;
And the whistle broke into a scream;
They found him in the wreck with his hand upon the throttle;
Hed been scalded to death by steam.

Well, its a mighty rough road from Lynchburg down to Danville,
On a line with a three-mile grade;
It was down that line where he lost his air-brakes;
You can see what a jump he made.
Steve Brady he said to his black, greasy fireman,
Shovel on a little more coal;
Im waitin to pass them wide-open mountains;
Gonna see the Old 97 roll.