Wreck of the Old 97
Jam-Along Backing Track
Lyrics
Well they gave him his orders in Monroe Virginia
Saying Steve you're way behind time
This is not thirty eight but it's old ninety seven
You must put her into Spencer on time
Well he turned around and said to his fireman
Shovel in a little more coal
And when we cross this big wide mountain
We'll watch old ninety-seven roll
It's a mighty rough road from Lynchburg to Danville
And lined on a three mile grade
It's on that grade that he lost his leverage
You see what a jump he made
They were going down the grade making ninety miles an hour
When his whistle broke into a scream
He was found in a wreck with his hand on the throttle
He was scalded to death by the steam
And the telegraph come to Washington station
And this is how it read
The brave engineer that run old ninety-seven
Is lying in old Danville dead
Now all you ladies better take warning
From this time now and learn
Never speak harsh words to your true loving husband
He may leave you and never return
Demo Videos
Instrument Lessons
Wreck of Ol' 97 - 2 Arrangements - Guitar Lesson
Music With Ryan
Wreck of the Old 97– Carter-Style Guitar Exercise!
Banjo Ben Clark
Wreck of the Old 97– Banjo Build-a-Break Lesson!
Banjo Ben Clark
Bag O' Licks in E Mandolin Lesson!
Banjo Ben Clark
"Wreck of the Old 97" Five String Banjo Lesson
williamanesbitt
Learn to Play - Wreck of the Old 97 - Bluegrass Banjo
Jim Pankey
"Wreck of the Old '97" - 3 Finger Banjo Song & Tab
Fingerstyle Banjo (Scruggs/bluegrass, Old-Time)
About This Song
Wreck of the Old 97 is a classic train wreck ballad that became one of the first million-selling country records when Vernon Dalhart recorded it in 1924. The song tells the true story of a 1903 mail train crash in Virginia, and its driving rhythm and dramatic narrative have made it a bluegrass standard for generations.