Wreck of the Old 97 Chords by Johnny Cash

[Start]

[Intro]

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


[Inst]
D A E A D A
■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■


[Verse]
                             D                         
But it's a mighty rough road from Lynchburg to Danville
A              E              
In a line on a threemile grade
   A                 D                       A     
It was on that grade that he lost to his air brakes
    E           A      
See what a jump he made
                            D                          
He was goin' down the grade makin' ninety miles an hour
A                      E       
His whistle broke into a scream
A               A7             D                       
He was found in the wreck with his hand on the throttle
A                       E        
But scalded to death by the steam


[Solo]
A D A E A D
■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
A E A
■ ■ ■


[Verse]
                         D                    
And then a telegram come to Washington station
A               E      
And this is how it read
              A        D                        
Oh that brave engineer that run old 'ninetyseven
A             E        A   
Is a lying in Danville dead


[Chorus]
                      D                        
So now all you ladies you better take a warnin'
A                 E        
From this time on and learn
A                       D                          
Never speak harsh words to your true loving husband
A                E         A      E
He may leave you and never return ■


[Outro]

[End]