G C      F  C  G  C  F  C G C

[Verse]
                            F
They gave him his orders at Monroe, Virginia
         C                        G
Sayin', "Steve, you're way behind time
     C                  F
It's 8:38, and it's the Old '97
      C            G           C
Gotta put her into Danville on time"

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

[Verse]
                           F
Steve Brady he said to his black, greasy fireman
 C                       G
"Shovel on a little more coal
    C                    F
I'm waitin' to pass them wide-open mountains
      C            G  C
Gonna see the Old '97 roll"

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

[Verse]
                                  F
He's comin' down that line makin' ninety miles an hour
    C                    G
The whistle broke into a scream
     C                               F
They found him in the wreck with his hand upon the throttle
          C          G        C
He'd been scalded to death by steam

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

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

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

[Instrumental]
C  F  C  G  C  F  C G C

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

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

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

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