Lyrics Johnny Cash

Johnny Cash

Wreck Of The Old 97

1. Well, they gave him his orders at Monroe, Virginia

Sayin', "Steve you're way behind time

This is not Thirty-Eight it is old Ninety-Seven

you must put her into Spencer on time."

2. Then he turned and said to his black greasy fireman

"Hey, shovel in a little more coal

For when we cross that White Oak Mountain

Watch old Ninety-Seven roll."

3. It's a mighty rough road from Lynchburg to Danville

with a line on a three mile grade

it was on that grade that he lost his airbrakes

see what a jump he made

4. He was going down the grade makin' ninety miles an hour

When his whistle broke into a scream

He was found in the wreck, with his hand on the throttle,

scalded to death by the steam

5. The telegram came from the Washington station

this is how it read

"Oh that brave engineer that run old Ninety-Seven

is lying in old Danville dead"

6. So now all you ladies you better take fair warnin'

From this time on and learn

Never speak harsh words to your true lovin' husband

he may leave you and never return