The Wreck of the Old '97 Songtext
von The Seekers

They gave him his orders at Monroe, Virginia
Sayin′, "Steve, you're way behind time
It′s 8: 38, and it's the old '97, gotta put her into Danville on time"

Well, it′s a mighty rough road from Lynchburg down to Danville
On a line with a three-mile grade
It was down that line where he lost his air-brakes
You can see what a jump he made

Steve Brady he said to his black, greasy fireman
"Shovel on a little more coal
I′m waitin' to pass them wide-open mountains
Gonna see the old ′97 roll"

Well, it's a mighty rough road from Lynchburg down to Danville
On a line with a three-mile grade
It was down that line where he lost his air-brakes
You can see what a jump he made

He′s comin' down that line makin′ 90 miles an hour
The whistle broke into a scream
They found him in the wreck with his hand upon the throttle
He'd been scalded to death by steam


Well, it's a mighty rough road from Lynchburg down to Danville
On a line with a three-mile grade
It was down that line where he lost his air-brakes
You can see what a jump he made

Well, come on now, all you ladies
From this time on, now learn
Don′t you ever say harsh words to your true-lovin′ husband
He'll leave you and never return

Well, it′s a mighty rough road from Lynchburg down to Danville
On a line with a three-mile grade
It was down that line where he lost his air-brakes
You can see what a jump he made

Well, he's comin′ down that line makin' 90 miles an hour
And the whistle broke into a scream
They found him in the wreck with his hand upon the throttle
He′d been scalded to death by steam

Well, it's a mighty rough road from Lynchburg down to Danville
On a line with a three-mile grade
It was down that line where he lost his air-brakes
You can see what a jump he made


Well, it's a mighty rough road from Lynchburg down to Danville
On a line with a three-mile grade
It was down that line where he lost his air-brakes
You can see what a jump he made

Well, it′s a mighty rough road from Lynchburg down to Danville
On a line with a three-mile grade
It was down that line where he lost his air-brakes
You can see what a jump he made