Back to song list   Previous song The Water Is Wide
Next song There Are No Lights On Our Christmas Tree THE WRECK OF THE OLD '97 They gave him his orders at Monroe, Virginia, Sayin' "Steve, you're way behind time; It's 8:38, and it's the Old '97; Gotta put her into Danville on time." Well, it's a mighty rough road from Lynchburg down to Danville, On a line with a three-mile grade; It was down that line where he lost his air-brakes; You can see what a jump he made. Steve Brady he said to his black, greasy fireman, "Shovel on a little more coal; I'm waitin' to pass them wide-open mountains; Gonna see the Old '97 roll." He's comin' down that line makin' ninety miles an hour; The whistle broke into a scream; They found him in the wreck with his hand upon the throttle; He'd been scalded to death by steam. Well, it's a mighty rough road from Lynchburg down to Danville, On a line with a three-mile grade; It was down that line where he lost his air-brakes; You can see what a jump he made. Steve Brady he said to his black, greasy fireman, "Shovel on a little more coal; I'm waitin' to pass them wide-open mountains; Gonna see the Old '97 roll." Well, come on now, all you ladies; From this time on, now learn; Don't you ever say harsh words to your true-lovin' husband; He'll leave you and never return. Well, it's a mighty rough road from Lynchburg down to Danville, On a line with a three-mile grade; It was down that line where he lost his air-brakes; You can see what a jump he made. Steve Brady he said to his black, greasy fireman, "Shovel on a little more coal; I'm waitin' to pass them wide-open mountains; Gonna see the Old '97 roll." Well, he's comin' down that line makin' ninety miles an hour; And the whistle broke into a scream; They found him in the wreck with his hand upon the throttle; He'd been scalded to death by steam. Well, it's a mighty rough road from Lynchburg down to Danville, On a line with a three-mile grade; It was down that line where he lost his air-brakes; You can see what a jump he made. Steve Brady he said to his black, greasy fireman, "Shovel on a little more coal; I'm waitin' to pass them wide-open mountains; Gonna see the Old '97 roll." 109/133, 2198 characters