Wreck Of The Old '97 Lyrics - Hank Williams Sr.

Well, they gave him his orders at Monroe, Virginia 

said, "Steve you're way behind time. 

This is not Thirty-Eight; this is old Ninety-Seven, 

so put her into Spencer on time." 

Then he turned and said to his black, greasy fireman 

"Shovel on a little more coal 

and when we cross that White Oak Mountain, 

watch old Ninety-Seven roll" 

And then the telegram came from Washington station 

and this is how it read: 

"Oh that brave engineer that ran old Ninety-Seven 

is lying in old Danville dead" 

'Cause he was going down the grade makin' ninety 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 

Now all you ladies you better take warnin' 

from this time on and learn 

Never speak harsh words to a true lovin' husband 

he may leave you and never return 

'board 'board 

Yodel-ay-hee hee hee hee hee hee