Johnny Cash was an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, actor, and author. He was widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century and one of the best-selling music artists of all time, having sold more than 90 million records worldwide. died of complications of diabetes.

Well, they give him his orders at Monroe, Virginia Sayin', "Steve you're way behind time, This is not Thirty-Eight, this is old Ninety-Seven, put her into Spencer on time"

Well he turned and said to his big greasy fireman "Hey shovel on a little more coal, And when we cross that white oak mountain, Watch old Ninety-Seven roll"

It's a mighty rough road from Lynchburg to Danville, In a line on a three mile grade It was on that grade, that he lost his airbrakes, See what a jump he made

He was going down the grade makin' ninety miles an hour, His whistle broke into a scream, He was found in the wreck, with his hand on the throttle, scalded to death by the steam

Then a telegram come to Washington station, And this is how it read, "Oh that brave engineer that run old Ninety-Seven, He's a-lyin' in old Danville dead

So now all you ladies you better take a-warnin', From this time on and learn Never speak harsh words to your true lovin' husband, He may leave you and never return

The wreck of Old 97 occurred when the engineer, 33-year-old Joseph A. Broady, at the controls of engine number 1102, was operating the train at high speed of 90 MPH in order to stay on schedule and arrive at Spencer on time. The Fast Mail had a reputation for never being late.