The Wreck Of The Old '97 ((aka The Wreck On The Southern Old 97 (Henry Whitter) - 1924))
((Adapted from: The Ship That Never Return'd (Henry Clay Work) - 1865))
Composer(s): Henry Clay Work - Henry Whitter
Performer(s): Eddy Arnold - 1959
and multiple other artists



They give him his orders at Monroe, Virginia 
Sayin', "Steve you're way behind time 
This is not Thirty-Eight, but it's old Ninety-Seven 
You must put her in Spencer on time" 

Then he looked 'round and said to his black greasy fireman 
"Just shovel in a little more coal 
And when we cross that white oak mountain 
You can watch old 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 where he lost his airbrakes 
So you see what a jump he made 

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

Now, ladies, you must all take warning 
From this time on and learn 
Never speak harsh words to your true lovin' husband 
He may leave you and never return