Johnny Cash
"Monteagle Mountain"

(Richard McGibony)

There's a stretch of Highway on Interstate 24 between Nashville and Chattanooga
That's claimed many trucker's life
And your life is in your hands when you start down that long steep grade
On Monteagle Mountain

I just rolled out of Nashville in my big rig headin' south
My eyes are on fire feels like cotton in my mouth
My whole body's achin' but I got to make them big wheels roll
I got to be in Florida by tomorrow morning with a full heavy load
I got to get passed Atlanta as soon as I can tonight
I got to try to dodge the scales and stay out of Smoky's sight
But there's one big thing standin' like a nightmare in my way
I got to top Monteagle Mountain a little bit later today
Goin' down Monteagle Mountain on I-24
It's hell for a trucker when the decil's at your door
He'll tempt you and tell you come on let her roll
Cause the mountain wants your rig and trucker I want your soul

When I started down Monteagle the brakes just wouldn't hold
I knew I was in trouble and bout to lose control
The runaway ramp was waitin' I saw the warnin' sign
I said Lord help me make it have mercy on this soul of mine
Well I ploughed into that runaway ramp and I could feel that bigh truck groan
My life flashed right before my eyes and for a minute I thought I was gone
But when the smoke cleared I thanked God that I was still alive
Cause when there's a runaway on Monteagle some truckers don't survive
Goin' down Monteagle Mountain...
Yeah many a good man had lost his life on Monteagle Mountain it's a long steep
grade