Allegheny
Johnny Cash Lyrics


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How she got that junk car runnin' guess I'll never know
It never ran but once and set to winters in the snow
Well imagine runnin' out on me when I lay sound asleep Allegheny
Well my big mistake was thinkin' she was something I could keep
She stole my winter's food supply and something else I fear
My savin's in the mattress have strangely disappeared
Now those who know me best knows he who robs me best beware Allegheny
I'm gonna call up the dogs and hunt you down drag you back here by the hair

Oh Allegheny something tells me you're dis-satisfied
Well could it be because I've been your mail-order bride
There's a half of you that's French yeah and I need to crave a better style
And a half of you is Cherokee yeah and I've gone wild Allegheny

She's got a head start on me as a crow flies half a day
And unless I miss my guess she'll stop to rest in Monterey
But if I take the Knoxville Highway thirteen hours it will be Allegheny
Well she forgot I knew the shortcut I'll be there in less than three

Oh Allegheny something tells me...

I signaled for my dogs to wait outside the hotel door
I described her to the desk clerk he said try the second floor
And then he mentioned she's got company
And that marks the stranget's doom Allegheny
I wish I was her so I could see my face when I bust into the room





Oh Allegheny something tells me...
Allegheny Allegheny come back here Allegheny Allegheny

Overall Meaning

The song "Allegheny" by Johnny Cash tells a story of a man who has been robbed by his partner, Allegheny. He is puzzled by how Allegheny managed to get his old car running and steal all his winter supplies, as well as his savings in the mattress. He feels that it was his mistake to think he could keep Allegheny. He decides to hunt her down and bring her back by force, with the help of his dogs.


The song also reveals that Allegheny is his mail-order bride, and she is dissatisfied with their life together. She is half-French and half-Cherokee, and she wants to explore her Native American roots. She has already fled from her partner, and he is in pursuit. He has a head start, but he knows a shortcut and will catch up with her soon.


The song portrays the theme of love, trust, and betrayal. The singer thought that Allegheny was someone he could keep, but she betrayed him. He trusted her but realized that he was wrong. The song also portrays a message of going the extra mile to catch what's yours. The singer takes the Knoxville Highway to catch up with Allegheny and even plans to barge in on her with his dogs.


Line by Line Meaning

How she got that junk car runnin' guess I'll never know
I am amazed at how she managed to repair that old car and make it run.


It never ran but once and set to winters in the snow
The car had been unused and buried in snow for a long time before she made it run once.


Well imagine runnin' out on me when I lay sound asleep Allegheny
I can't believe she left me in my sleep, Allegheny.


Well my big mistake was thinkin' she was something I could keep
I made a mistake by thinking that she would stay with me forever.


She stole my winter's food supply and something else I fear
She took my winter supplies and something else I am worried about.


My savin's in the mattress have strangely disappeared
The money I had saved in my mattress has disappeared in a mysterious manner.


Now those who know me best knows he who robs me best beware Allegheny
People who know me well know that those who try to rob me will face dire consequences, Allegheny.


I'm gonna call up the dogs and hunt you down drag you back here by the hair
I am going to send my dogs to find you, grab you by your hair, and bring you back here.


Oh Allegheny something tells me you're dis-satisfied
I suspect that you are not happy, Allegheny.


Well could it be because I've been your mail-order bride
I wonder if you are unhappy because I am your mail-ordered spouse.


There's a half of you that's French yeah and I need to crave a better style
You have a French ancestry, and I think you need to improve your sense of style.


And a half of you is Cherokee yeah and I've gone wild Allegheny
You also have Cherokee ancestry, and I think you have become wild and carefree, Allegheny.


She's got a head start on me as a crow flies half a day
She has a significant head start on me, about half a day's travel by crow's flight.


And unless I miss my guess she'll stop to rest in Monterey
If I am not wrong, she will take a rest in Monterey.


But if I take the Knoxville Highway thirteen hours it will be Allegheny
If I take the Knoxville Highway, it will take me thirteen hours to reach her, Allegheny.


Well she forgot I knew the shortcut I'll be there in less than three
But she forgot that I know a shortcut, and I will reach there in less than three hours.


I signaled for my dogs to wait outside the hotel door
I asked my dogs to wait outside the hotel room.


I described her to the desk clerk he said try the second floor
I gave the clerk her description, and he told me to check on the second floor.


And then he mentioned she's got company
The clerk also informed me that she has a companion with her.


And that marks the stranget's doom Allegheny
That companion's fate is sealed, Allegheny.


I wish I was her so I could see my face when I bust into the room
I wish I could see her face when I burst into the room.


Allegheny Allegheny come back here Allegheny Allegheny
Come back here, Allegheny.




Contributed by Zachary S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Anonymous


on Wayfaring Stranger

Wayfaring Stranger - The New Appalachians - Lyrics

I am a poor wayfaring stranger
Traveling through this world alone

There will be no sickness, toil or danger
In that grand land to which I roam

Well I'm going home to see my mother
I'm going home to a morning rose
I'm only goin' over Jordan
I'm only goin' over home

Musical Interlude

I know dark clouds will gather 'round me
I know my way is rough and steep
And beautiful fields lie just before me
Where God's redeemed there vigils keep

Well I'm going home to see my brothers
I'm going home no more to roam
I'm only goin' over Jordan
I'm only goin' over home

Musical Interlude

I'm going home to see my Father
I'm going home no more to roam
I'm only goin' over Jordan
I’m only goin’ where no one roams

I want to wear that crown of glory
When I get to that good land
I want to shout out salvation story
In concert with that blood washed band.
I'm going there to see my saviour
I’ll see his face no more to roam
I'm only going over Jordan
I'm only going over home
I'm only goin' over home

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