Johnny Cash The Wreck of Old '97 song lyrics

Well, they gave him his orders at Monroe, Virginia

Said, "Steve, you're way behind time

This is not 38, this is Old 97

Put her into Spencer on time"

Then he turned around and said to his black, greasy fireman

"Shovel on a little more coal

And when we cross that White Oak Mountain

Watch Old 97 roll"

And then a telegram come from Washington station

This is how it read

"Oh that brave engineer that run Old 97

Is lyin' in old Danville dead"

'Cause he was going down a grade making 90 miles an hour

The whistle broke into a scream

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

Scalded to death by the steam

One more time

Oh, now all you ladies you'd better take a warning

From this time on and learn

Never speak hard words to your true-lovin' husband

He may leave you and never return, poor boy