The Wreck of the Old ’97

Lyrics

[Verse] 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" [Chorus] 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 [Verse] 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" [Chorus] 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 [Verse] 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 [Chorus] 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 [Verse] 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 [Chorus] 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 [Verse] 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 [Chorus] 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 [Chorus] 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 [Chorus] 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