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"
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
He's comin' down that line makin' 90 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
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
♪
Well, he's comin' down that line makin' 90 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
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
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