David G. George's "WRECK OF THE OLD '97" lyrics (the music is traditional)
Well they gave him his orders at Monroe, Virginia,
Saying Pete, you're way behind time,
"This is not 38, but it's Ol' 97,
"You must put her into Centre on time."
He turned and he said to his black, greasy fireman,
"Shovel on a little more coal.
"And when we reach that White Oak mountain,
"You can watch Ol' 97 roll."
It's a mighty rough road from Lynchburg to Danville
with the line on a 3 mile grade
It was on this grade that he lost his airbrakes
And you see what a jump he made
He was going down a grade makin' 90 miles an hour,
When the whistle broke into a scream.
He was found in the wreck with his hand on the throttle,
Scalded to death by the steam.
Then the telegram came to Washington city
and this is how it read
The brave engineer that ran ol' 97
he's a laying in old Danville dead
Now ladies you must take warning,
From this time on and learn.
Never speak harsh words to your true-lovin' husband.
He may leave you and never return.
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