They gave him his orders at Monroe, Virginia
Saying, "Steve, you're way behind time
This is not thirty-eight, this is old ninety-seven
Put her into Spencer on time"

Well, he turned around and said to his big greasy fireman
"Hey, shovel on a little more coal!
And when we cross that White Oak Mountain, 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 that he lost his air brakes
You see what a jump he made

He was going down the grade, making ninety miles an hour
His 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 a warning from this time on and learn
Never speak harsh words to your true lover husband
He may leave you and never return