The Wreck of Old ’97 Songtext
von Johnny Cash with June Carter Cash

Well they gave him his orders at Monroe Virginia
Saying, "Steve you′re way behind time
This is not 38 this is old 97
Put her into Spencer on time."


And then he turned around and said to his black greasy fireman
"Shovel on a little more coal
And when we cross that White Old Mountain
Watch old 97 roll."

Well he was going down the grade, 90 miles an hour
But his whistle broke into a scream
He was found in the wreck with his hand on the throttle
Scalded to death by the steam

And then a telegram came to Washington station
This is what it said
It said, "That brave engineer that has run old 97
Is lying down in Danville, dead."