"Wreck on the Highway" is a classic bluegrass song[1] most commonly associated with Roy Acuff.
"Wreck on the Highway" tells the story of an automobile accident, with implication of alcohol abuse ("whiskey and blood run together") and moral religious language ("Their soul has been called by the Master... But I didn't hear nobody pray... It'll be too late if tomorrow you'll fall by a crash by the way...And you can't hear nobody pray").[1][2]
It was recorded in 1940 by the Chicago-based country duo Karl and Harty (Karl Davis and Harty Taylor). The best-known version was recorded by Roy Acuff And His Smoky Mountain Boys in Hollywood in 1942.[2][3]
Bill Haley and the 4 Aces of Western Swing recorded a cover in 1949 that went unreleased until the 1977 LP Golden Country Origins. Wilma Lee Cooper and her husband Stoney Cooper released a version as the B side of their 1961 single "Night After Night".[4]George Jones and Gene Pitney recorded a version (under the name "George and Gene"), released as a single in 1965,[5]Hank Locklin recorded the song for his 1962 album A Tribute to Roy Acuff, King of Country Music,[6] and the Louvin Brothers also recorded the song.[7]
According to both Dave Marsh and Patrick Humphries, Bruce Springsteen's song "Wreck on the Highway" on his 1980 album The River was directly inspired by Dorsey Dixon's song.[10][11] The two songs have the same title, same theme (the singer coming across a fatal highway crash), and same mood (gloomy, reflective), although the lyrics and melodies are altogether different.