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Wreck of Old 97 
Wreck of Old 97 
SOURCE: Bob Pfeffer AIR: The Ship that Never Returned
 C F Well, they handed him his orders in Monroe, Virginia, C G7 Sayin', "Steve, you're way behind time. C F This is not 38, it is Old 97 
C G7 C You must put her into Spencer on time." 
Well, the engineer he said to his black, greasy fireman "Shovel on a little more coal, And when we cross that White Oak Mountain You can watch Old 97 roll." 
It's a mighty hard road from Lynchburg to Danville A road with a three-mile grade It was on that grade that he lost his airbrake You can see what a jump she made 
He was goin' down the grade making 90 miles an hour When his whistle broke into a scream He was found in the wreck with his hand on the throttle He was scalded to death by the steam 
Now listen, all you ladies, you must all take a warning From this story a lesson learn Never speak harsh words to your true lovin' husband He may leave you and never return. 
note: Vernon Dahlhart's record of this was probably the first gold record C&W produced. 
DT #634 Laws G2 RPf