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Wreck Of The Old 97

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4.9180 votes

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[Verse]
Well, they Ggave him his orders at CMonroe, Virginia
Sayin' GSteve you're way behind Dtime
This is Gnot Thirty Eight, this is COld Ninety-Seven
You must Gput her into DSpencer on Gtime
[Verse]
Then he Gturned around and said to his Cblack greasy fireman
GShovel on a little more Dcoal
And Gwhen we cross that Cwide oak mountain
GWatch Old Ninety-DSeven Groll
[Solo]
G     C     G     D
G     C     G  D  G
[Verse]
But it's a Gmighty rough road from CLynchburg to Danville
On a Gline with a three mile Dgrade
It was Gon that grade that he Clost his air brakes
   GSee what a Djump he Gmade
[Verse]
He was Ggoin' down the grade makin' nCinety miles an hour
His Gwhistle broke into a Dscream
He was Gfound in the wreck with his Chand on the throttle
a-Gscalded to Ddeath by the Gsteam
[Solo]
G     C     G     D
G     C     G  D  G
[Verse]
Then a Gtelegram come to CWashington station
And Gthis is how it Dread
Well that Gbrave engineer that Crun Old Ninety-Seven
He's a-Glyin' in ol' DDanville Gdead
[Verse]
So now, Gall you ladies you Cbetter take a warnin'
From Gthis time on and Dlearn
Never Gspeak harsh words to your Ctrue lovin' husband
He may lGeave you and Dnever reGturn

All chords in this song (3)

The story behind the song

This song captures the essence of Johnny Cash's musical world, often marked by themes of sorrow and moral tribulation. His distinctive bass-baritone voice and the train-like chugging guitar rhythms of his backing band, the Tennessee Three, frequently evoke a sense of movement and narrative. Playing this song can transport you into the heart of a story, much like the tales Cash often told.

AI-written from these sources:Johnny Cash — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

🎸 Tips from players

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Wreck Of The Old 97

by Johnny Cash

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

[Verse]

G C

Well, they gave him his orders at Monroe, Virginia

G D

Sayin' Steve you're way behind time

G C

This is not Thirty Eight, this is Old Ninety-Seven

G D G

You must put her into Spencer on time

[Verse]

G C

Then he turned around and said to his black greasy fireman

G D

Shovel on a little more coal

G C

And when we cross that wide oak mountain

G D G

Watch Old Ninety-Seven roll

[Solo]

G C G D

G C G D G

[Verse]

G C

But it's a mighty rough road from Lynchburg to Danville

G D

On a line with a three mile grade

G C

It was on that grade that he lost his air brakes

G D G

See what a jump he made

[Verse]

G C

He was goin' down the grade makin' ninety miles an hour

G D

His whistle broke into a scream

G C

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

G D G

a-scalded to death by the steam

[Solo]

G C G D

G C G D G

[Verse]

G C

Then a telegram come to Washington station

G D

And this is how it read

G C

Well that brave engineer that run Old Ninety-Seven

G D G

He's a-lyin' in ol' Danville dead

[Verse]

G C

So now, all you ladies you better take a warnin'

G D

From this time on and learn

G C

Never speak harsh words to your true lovin' husband

G D G

He may leave you and never return

About Wreck Of The Old 97 Chords by Johnny Cash

Learn how to play Wreck Of The Old 97 by Johnny Cash with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Wreck Of The Old 97 chords”, “Wreck Of The Old 97 guitar chords”, or “Johnny Cash Wreck Of The Old 97 chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy Wreck Of The Old 97 chords and for experienced players who want accurate Wreck Of The Old 97 lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include G, C, D.

FAQ — Wreck Of The Old 97 by Johnny Cash

How do I play "Wreck Of The Old 97" by Johnny Cash on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Wreck Of The Old 97" by Johnny Cash on Free Chord Book. Tap any chord to see its diagram, use transpose to change the key, and turn on auto-scroll to play hands-free.

Are the chords for "Wreck Of The Old 97" by Johnny Cash free?

Yes. The chords for "Wreck Of The Old 97" by Johnny Cash are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "Wreck Of The Old 97" to a different key?

Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "Wreck Of The Old 97" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.

Can I see chord diagrams for "Wreck Of The Old 97"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "Wreck Of The Old 97" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "Wreck Of The Old 97" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Wreck Of The Old 97" by Johnny Cash with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Johnny Cash below.

What key is "Wreck Of The Old 97" in?

The chords for "Wreck Of The Old 97" show the original chord names (including G, C, D). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.