They gave him his orders at Monroe, Virginia
Sayin', "Steve you're way behind time
This is not Thirty-Eight
This is ol' Ninety-Seven
Put her into Spencer on time"

Well he turned around and said to his big greasy fireman
"Hey shovel on a little more coal
And when we cross that white oak mountain
Watch ol' Ninety-Seven roll"

It's a mighty rough road from Lynchburg to Danville
In a line on a three mile grade
It was on that grade that he lost his airbrakes
You see what a jump he made

He was going down the grade makin' ninety miles an hour
His whistle broke into a scream
He was found in the wreck, with his hand on the throttle
Scalded to death by the steam

Well now all you ladies you better take a-warnin'
From this time on and learn
Never speak harsh words to your true lovin' husband
He may leave you and never return