The Wreck of the Old Ninety - Seven

The Wreck of the Old Ninety - Seven - Carolyn Hester/Bob Dylan

They give him his orders

At Monroe Virginia

Sayin' "Steve you're way behind time

This is not Thirty-Eight

This is old Ninety-Seven

You must put her into Spencer on time"

He turned and said to

His black greasy fireman

"Shovel in a little more coal

And when we reach that white oak mountain

You can Watch old Ninety-Seven roll"

It's a mighty rough road

From Lynchburg to Danville

In a line on a three mile grade

It was on that grade that

He lost his airbrakes

You See what a jump he made

He was going down the grade

Makin' ninety miles an hour

His whistle broke into a scream

He was found in the wreck

With his hand on the throttle

A-scalded to death by the steam

So now all you ladies

You better take a-warnin'

From this time on and learn

Never speak harsh words

To your true lovin' husband

He may leave you and never return