ARTIST: David George TITLE: The Wreck of the Old 97 Lyrics and Chords On one cloudless morning I stood on the mountain Just watching the smoke from below It was coming from a tall, slim smokestack Way down on the southern railroad / G - C - / G - D - / G - C - / G D G - / It was 97, the fastest train Ever ran the southern line All the freight trains and pass'gers take the side for 97 For she's bound to be at stations on time They gave him his orders at Monroe, Virginia Saying, "Stevie, you're way behind time This is not 38, but it's Old 97 You must put her into Spencer on time" He looked 'round and said to his black greasy fireman "Just shovel in a little more coal And when I cross that old White Oak Mountain You can just watch Old 97 roll" It's a mighty rough road from Lynchburg to Danville And the lie was a three-mile grade It was on that grade that he lost his air brakes And you see what a jump that she made He was going down the grade making 90 miles an hour When his whistle began to scream He was found in that wreck with his hand on the throttle He was scalded to death by the steam Did she ever pull in? No, she never pulled in And at 1:45 he was due For hours and hours has the switchman been waiting For that fast mail that never pulled through Did she ever pull in? No, she never pulled in And that poor boy, he must be dead Oh, yonder he lays on the railroad track With the cart wheels over his head 97, she was the fastest train That the south had ever seen But she run so fast on that Sunday morning That the death score was numbered 14 Now, ladies, you must take warning From this time now and on Never speak harsh words to your true loving husband He may leave you and never return
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