Recorded by Hank Snow 
Written by Charles Noell, Fred Lewey and Whitter/Work 
 
A                           D
They give him his orders at Monroe, Virginia, 
        A                         E7
Sayin', "Steve, you're way behind time 
        A                    D
This is not 38, but it's Old 97 
         A          E7         A
You must put her in Spencer on time." 
 
Then he look 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." 
 
Fiddle break: 
 
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 airbrakes 
Oh, you see what a jump he made. 
 
Guitar break: 
 
He was goin' down grade making 90 miles an hour 
When      his whistle broke into a scream 
He was found      in the wreck with his hand on the throttle 
And was scalded to death by the steam. 
 
Fiddle break: 
 
Now ladies, you must take warning 
>From this time on and learn 
Never speak harsh words to your true love or husband 
He may leave you and never return. 
 
Source: HANK SNOW - THE WRECK OF THE OLD 97 
        1971 RCA CXS 9009(e)