The Wreck of the Old 97 Chords by Johnny Cash

[Start]

[Verse]
B Gb7 B                                  E              
■ ■   ■ Well they gave him his orders at Monroe Virginia
B                              Gb  
Saying Steve you're way behind time
        B                        E   B            E
This is not 'thirtyeight this is old 'ninetyseven ■
B            Gb         B   
Put her into Spencer on time
                                      E                   
Then he turned around and said to his black greasy fireman
B                       Gb  
Shovel on a little more coal
B                                E       
And when we cross that White Oak Mountain
B         Gb           B   
Watch old 'ninetyseven roll


[Inst]
E B Gb B E B Gb7 B
■ ■ ■  ■ ■ ■ ■   ■


[Verse]
                                  E                    
But it's a mighty rough road from Lynchburg to Danville
     B                   Gb   
In a line on a threemile grade
       B                                           
It was on that grade that he lost to his air brakes
           Gb      B   
See what a jump he made
                                   E      B        E   
He was goin' down the grade makin' ninety miles an hour
B                        Gb    
His whistle broke into a scream
       B                                               
He was found in the wreck with his hand on the throttle
E                                
But scalded to death by the steam


[Chorus]
           B                                  
And then a telegram come to Washington station
Gb                     
And this is how it read
   B                                            
Oh that brave engineer that run old 'ninetyseven
B                          
Is a lying in Danville dead
                          E                    
So now all you ladies you better take a warnin'
B                     Gb   
From this time on and learn
B                                           E      
Never speak harsh words to your true loving husband
       B                         
He may leave you and never return


[End]