곡 정보

On one cloudless morning I stood on the mountain
Just watching the smoke from below
It was coming from a tall, slim smokestack
Way down on the Southern railroad

It was 97, the fastest train
Ever ran the Southern line
All the freight trains and passengers take the side for 97
For she's bound to be at stations on time

They gave him his orders at Monroe, Virginia
Saying, Stevie, you're way behind time
This is not 38, but it's Old 97
You must put her into Spencer on time

He looked 'round and said to his black greasy fireman
Just shovel in a little more coal
And when I cross that old White Oak Mountain
You can just watch Old 97 roll

It's a mighty rough road from Lynchburg to Danville
And the lie was a three mile grade
It was on that grade that he lost his air brakes
And you see what a jump that she made

He was going down the grade making 90 miles an hour
When his whistle began to scream
He was found in that wreck with his hand on the throttle
He was scalded to death by the steam

Did she ever pull in No, she never pulled in
And at 145 he was due
For hours and hours has the switchman been waiting
For that fast mail that never pulled through

Did she ever pull in No, she never pulled in
And that poor boy must be dead
Oh, yonder he lays on the railroad track
With the cart wheels over his head

97, she was the fastest train
That the South had ever seen
But she run so fast on that Sunday morning
That the death score was numbered 14

Now, 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