Wreck of the old ‘97

              Collected by:
Billie Lou Ratliff For:
Mary C. Parler
Name of singer:
Mrs. Mildred Ratliff
Address:
Dutton, Arkansas
Date:
January 4, 1959
Reel 270 Item 15
THE WRECK OF OLD 97
Oh, they handed him his orders at Monroe, Virginia Saying, Pete, you’re away behind time This is not thirty-eight, but it’s old ninety-seven You must make it in Spencer on time.
Oh, he looked ’round his cab at his black greasy fireman
Saying, shovel in a little more coal And when we cross that White Oak Mountain You can watch old ninety-seven roll.
It’s a mighty rough road from Lynchburg to Danville And lying on a three-mile grade It was on that grade that he lost his average And you see what a jump he made.
He was going down hill at ninety miles an hour When the whistle broke into a scream
He was found in the wreck with his hand on the throttle And scalded to death by the steam.
Now, ladies, you must take warning From this time ever more
Never speak harsh words to your true loving husbands They may leave you never to return.