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