D                           G
They give him his orders at Monroe Virginia
        D                       A
Saying  Steve you re way behind time
        D                  G
This is not 38 but this is Old 97
D          A          D
Put her in Spencer on time
 
                                      G
Then he looked around and said to his black greasy fireman
     D                       A
Just shovel on a little more coal
    D                  G
And when we cross that White Oak Mountain
        D         A  D
You can watch Old 97 roll
 
                               G
And when a telegram comes from Washington Station
    D              A
And this is how it read
         D                    G
Oh that brave engineers that run old 97
   D            A        D
Is lying in old Danville dead
 
                               G
He was going down grade making 90 miles an hour
         D                    A
When his whistle broke into a scream
       D                           G
He was found in the wreck with his hand on the throttle
        D          A            D
And was scalded to death by the steam
 
                    G
Now ladies you must take warning
     D                A
From this time on and learn
      D                         G
Never speak harsh words to your true loving husband
       D             A       D
He may leave you and never return