Flatt & Scruggs version
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Well they gave him his orders at Monroe Virginia
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Saying Steve you're way behind time
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This is not 38 but it's old 97 you must put her into Spencer on time
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Well he turned around and said to his fireman shovel in a little more coal
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And when we cross this big White Mountain we'll watch old 97 roll
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[ dobro ]
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It's a mighty rough road from Lynchburg to Danville and a line on a three mile grade
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It's on that grade that he lost his airbrakes you see what a jump he made
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They were goin' down the grade makin' 90 miles an hour
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When his whistle broke into a scream
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He was found in the wreck with his hand on the throttle
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A scalded to death by the steam
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[ fiddle ]
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Then the telegram come from Washington station and this is how it read
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The brave engineer that run old 97 he's a laying in old Danville dead
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Now all you ladies we take a warning from this time now and learn
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Never speak harsh words to your true loving husband
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He may leave and never return
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Wreck Of The Old '97
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Nine Pound Hammer |