A popular song from 1924.
Words and music by Henry Whitter.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by Boundless Vintage Music:
Lyrics
- They gave him up his order at Monroe, Vaginia
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” - 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 - 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 airbrakes
And you see what a jump he made - 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 - 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
Sung here by Laurence Rubenstein: