Wreck Of The Old 97 Lyrics - Eddy Arnold

They gave him his orders at Monroe Virginia 

Sayin' Steve you're way behind time 

This is not '38 but this it's old '97 

You must put her in Spencer on time 

He turned around and said to his black greasy fireman 

Just shovel on a little more coal 

And when we cross that White Oak Mountain 

You can watch old '97 roll 

He was goin' 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 

A scalded to death by the steam 

It's a mighty rough road from Lynchburg to Danville 

With a line on a three mile grade 

It was on this grade that he lost his air brakes 

And he see what a jump we made 

He was goin' down the grade 

So come on you ladies you must take a warning 

From this time on and learn 

Never speak harsh words to your true loving husband 

He may leave you and never return