Here’s how the title and lyrics appear in the sheet music, which you can view at the website of York University. The most striking thing here is the name of the engineer:


THE WRECK ON THE SOUTHERN OLD 97
Words and music by Henry Whitter. ©1924.

1. They gave him up his order at Monroe, Virginia,
Saying: “Steve, you’re way behind time.
This is not “Thirty-Eight” but it’s “Old Ninety-Seven.”
You must put her in Spencer on time.”

2. Steve Brooklyn said to his black greasy fireman:
“Just shovel on a little more coal,
And when we cross that White Oak Mountain,
You can watch Old Ninety-Seven roll.”

3. It’s a mighty rough road from Lynchburg to Danville,
And a line on a three-mile grade.
It was on this grade when he lost his air brakes
And you see what a jump he made.

4. He was going down grade making ninety miles an hour
When his whistle began to scream.
He was found in the wreck with his hand on the throttle
And was scalded to death by steam.

5. So come on, you ladies; you must take warning
From this time now and on.
Never speak harsh words to your true loving husband.
He may leave you and never return.