[Verse 1]
They give him his orders at Monroe, Virginia
Said, "Steve, you're way behind time
This is not 38, but it's Old 97
You must put her in Spencer on time"

[Verse 2]
He turned around and said to his black, greasy fireman
"Shovel on a little more coal
And when we cross that White Oak Mountain
Watch Old 97 roll"

[Verse 3]
And then a telegram came from Washington station
This is how it read
It said "That brave engineer that has run ole' 97
Is lying down in Danville dead"

[Verse 4]
He was goin' down a grade making 90 miles an hour
When his whistle broke into a scream
He was found in the wrеck with his hand on the throttle
Scalded to dеath by the steam

[Verse 5]
So now all you pretty ladies you better take a warning
From this time on and learn
Don't you speak hard words to your true lover husband
He may leave you and never return