G C
Well, they gave him his orders at Monroe, Virginia
G D
Sayin' Steve you're way behind time
G C
This is not Thirty Eight, this is Old Ninety-Seven
G D G
You must put her into Spencer on time
[Verse]
G C
Then he turned around and said to his black greasy fireman
G D
Shovel on a little more coal
G C
And when we cross that wide oak mountain
G D G
Watch Old Ninety-Seven roll
[Solo]
G C G D
G C G D G
[Verse]
G C
But it's a mighty rough road from Lynchburg to Danville
G D
On a line with a three mile grade
G C
It was on that grade that he lost his air brakes
G D G
See what a jump he made
[Verse]
G C
He was goin' down the grade makin' ninety miles an hour
G D
His whistle broke into a scream
G C
He was found in the wreck with his hand on the throttle
G D G
a-scalded to death by the steam
[Solo]
G C G D
G C G D G
[Verse]
G C
Then a telegram come to Washington station
G D
And this is how it read
G C
Well that brave engineer that run Old Ninety-Seven
G D G
He's a-lyin' in ol' Danville dead
[Verse]
G C
So now, all you ladies you better take a warnin'
G D
From this time on and learn
G C
Never speak harsh words to your true lovin' husband
G D G
He may leave you and never return
