Wreck Of The Old '97
(from the album "Dressed In Black: A Tribute To Johnny Cash")
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