E
Well, they gave him his orders at Monroe, Virginia
B7                                  E
Sayin', "Steve you're way behind time
       
This is not Thirty-Eight it is old Ninety-Seven
B7                              E     
So put her into Spencer on time."

A                                                        E
Then he turned around and said to his black greasy fireman
A                          B7
"Shovel on a little more coal                                                     
A                                       E
And when we cross that White Oak Mountain
A                        B7(stop)
Watch old Ninety-Seven roll."

E                              A                 B7                    E
And then a telegram came from Washington station and this is how it read
well that brave engineer that ran old 97 is lying in old daneville dead
cause he was going down the grid makeing 90 miles an hour
And his whistle broke into a scream
He was found in the wreck, with his hand on the throttle,
scalded to death by the steam

now all you ladies you better take warnin'
From this time on and learn
Never speak harsh words to atrue lovin' husband
he may leave you and never return, poor boy