Wreck Of The Old Ninety-Seven

Wreck Of The Old Ninety-Seven - Oscar Brand/The Roger Wilco Four

Written by：Grayson Whitter

There were 97 airplanes warming up on the apron

Far as the eye could see

Now the first 96 were recent construction

But the last was a 51 D

Then a 2nd Lieutenant wandered into operations

Asked for a ship to fly

They said young man we are very short of airplanes

But we'll get you a somethin' by and by

Now the first 46 are reserved for the Majors

The captains have the next 49

There's only one other ship on the end of the apron

Said the Shavetail and that one is mine

So he flew over Tajon and the Taju airstrip

When the ceiling began to fall

The clouds closed down on the tops of the mountains

He couldn't see the ground at all

He flew through the rain he flew through snowstorm

When the light began to fail

Then he spied a railroad goin' in his direction

And he said better get there by rail

He flew down the valley and he dodged through the canyon

Keeping that train in his sight

'Til the rails disappeared in a hole in the mountain

That was the end of his flight

It was old 97 with her nose in the mountain

Her wheels set akimbo on the track

Yes her throttle was bent in forward position

But the engine was facing straight back

Oh ladies ladies take fair warning

From this time now on

Never speak harsh words to your high flying pilot

He may leave you and never return