Well 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.

And it's a mighty rough road 
From Lynchburg down to Danville,
On a line on a three-mile grade
It was down that line 
He lost his air-brakes
You can see what a jump he made.

Steve Brady he said to his black, greasy fireman,
Just shovel on a little more coal
I'm waitin' to pass them wide-open mountains;
Gonna see the Old '97 roll.

Cos it's a mighty rough road 
From Lynchburg down to Danville,
On a line on a three-mile grade
It was down that line 
He lost his air-brakes
You can see what a jump he made.

He was 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.

It's a mighty rough road 
From Lynchburg down to Danville,
On a line on a three-mile grade
It was down that line 
He lost his air-brakes;
You can see what a jump he made.

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.

It's a mighty rough road 
From Lynchburg down to Danville,
On a line on a three-mile grade
It was down that line 
He lost his air-brakes
You can see what a jump he made.

