WRECK OF THE OLD '97
 

They gave him his orders

At Monroe, Virginia

Sayin' Pete you're way behind time

This is not '38, but its old '97

You must put her into Spencer on time

 

He looked round an' said

To his black, greasy fireman

Jus' shove on in a lil' more coal

And when we cross that wide old mountain

You can watch old '97 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 airbrake

And you see what a jump he made

 

He was goin' down the grade

Makin' ninety miles an hour

When his whistle broke into a scream

He was found in the wreck

With his hand on the throttle

And a scalded to death by the steam

 

Now ladies you must take warnin'

From this time now and on

Never speak harsh words

To your true love and husband

He may leave you and never return
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