The Wreck Of The Old `97

<br>They give him his orders at Monroe, Virginia<br>Sayin`, "Steve you`re way behind time<br>This is not Thirty-Eight, but it`s old Ninety-Seven<br>You must put her in Spencer on time"<br><br>Then he looked `round and said to his black greasy fireman<br>"Just shovel in a little more coal<br>And when we cross that white oak mountain<br>You can watch old Ninety-Seven roll"<br><br>It`s a mighty rough road from Lynchburg to Danville<br>In a line on a three mile grade<br>It was on that grade where he lost his airbrakes<br>So you see what a jump he made<br><br>He was goin` down grade makin` ninety miles an hour<br>And his whistle broke into a scream<br>He was found in the wreck, with his hand on the throttle<br>And scalded to death by the steam<br><br>Now, ladies, you must all take warning<br>From this time on and learn<br>Never speak harsh words to your true lovin` husband<br>He may leave you and never return