2A. Wreck of the Old Southern Ninety-Seven- 1925
[This version appears to be based on the 1924 recording by Vernon Dalhart of "Wreck of the Old 97" which was backed with "Prisoner's Song." Whitter had recorded and copyrighted (through Peer) "Wreck" first. Dalhart's recording sold over a million copies in the next year or so- making it the biggest early country record at that time. I'm including the MP3 Robert Gorden recorded in 1925 of "Old 97" by Charles Noell, one of the 'original' authors, and the two main influential 'country' recordings.
Click to Listen: "Old 97" by Charles Noell Gordon Collection
Click to play: Wreck on the Southern Old 97- Henry Whitter
Click to Listen: Wreck on the Southern Old 97- Vernon Dalhart 1924
See the article, Robert W. Gordon and the Second Wreck of "Old 97" by Norm Cohen, in my articles section.
R. Matteson 2014]
2A . THE WRECK OF THE OLD SOUTHERN NINETY-SEVEN
Contributed by Miss Helen Clayton Matthews, Charleston, Kanawha County, May 29, 1925. She learned from Harry Lively, who learned it from another boy. The music was noted by Miss Katie Bolle Abney.
O they gave him his orders at Monroe, Virginia,
Saying "Boy, you're way behind time ;
This is not thirty-eight, but old ninety-seven
So put her in Center on time."
He turned around to his black, greasy fireman,
Sayin', "Shovel in a little more coal;
ind when you reach, the wide, open mountains
You can watch the drivers roll."
"It's a mighty rough road from Lynchburg to Danville,
And a stretch on a three-mile grade;
It was on this stretch that he lost his average,
You can see what a jump he made.
He was coming down the mountain, makin' ninety miles an hour,
When his whistle broke into a scream,
Ho was found in the wreck with his hand on the throttle,
And scalded to death by steam.
Now ladies, you must take warnin'
From this time now and on,
Never seek hard work for your true lovin' husband,
He may leave you and never return.
In 2.A, the first variation of 'Virginia' in stanza 1 of the regular text and 'Virginy,' in the text under the music, has been retained
(Herzog).