The Carroll County Accident by Porter Wagoner

Album: The Carroll County Accident (1968)

Charted: 92

License This Song

lyrics

Songfacts®:

One of Porter Wagoner's signature songs, this hit country tune unfolds around a car accident that kills Walter Browning and leaves the driver, Mary Ellen Jones, critically injured. The accident nearly exposes the affair between the two. Jones claims Browning, a respected member of the community and seemingly happily married man, was simply giving her a lift into town. The narrator, however, comes across Browning's wedding ring in the wreckage, hidden away in a matchbox. In a surprising twist, we discover the narrator is Browning's son, and he disposes of the ring to preserve his dad's reputation.
Bob Ferguson, who wrote the 1960 Ferlin Husky crossover hit "Wings Of A Dove," told author Dorothy Horstman about the inspiration behind "The Carroll County Accident," a #2 hit on the country chart: "I was driving through Tennessee on my way to Mississippi when I passed an interstate sign that said 'Carroll County,' and I said to myself, 'If I don't slow down, I'll be the Carroll County accident,' and then I thought, 'If that isn't a song title, I've never heard one.'"
This won the Country Music Association's Song of the Year in 1969.
Dolly Parton recorded this for her 1969 album In the Good Old Days (When Times Were Bad). That same year, it was covered by Mel Tillis and Ernest Tubb.

Comments: 10

Da from Denver, CoOK, so they were having an affair, but that doesn't tell the truth about the accident, how/why did it happen? Did they get run off the road, did Mary Ellen take her eyes off the road and wreck the car? Were they arguing and Mary Ellen purposely wrecked?
Randy from InIt seems strange that he would take his wedding band off and hide it in her car to hide from her the fact that he was married to someone else.
Anonymous from CaliforniaGreat song and thats how it was
Dee Frazier from PennsylvaniaPeople, read the last two lines for your answers.
Brad In Wi from WiWhy was the ring in a match box?
In her car, behind the dash?
They obviously "knew" each other.....
Sonja from GaTo Peter from Kalgoorlie: The narrator says "I lost him in the Carroll County accident",so he apparently was a relation of Walter Browning.
To Rod from Al: Walter may have been lying about his marital status to his mistress.
Peter from KalgoorlieWhere in the lyrics does it say the narrator is Browning's son?
Kerry from TxI first heard the song in elementary school and understood what was going on immediately. It's not that hard!
Rod From Al from Alabama I don’t get it. If the two were having an affair and they were the only two in the car, why hide the wedding band? And was she wearing a wedding ring? Makes no sense!
Sharon from TnWalter Browning was the passenger, not Mary Ellen Jones. It was her car, he flagged her down to pick him up.

see more comments

More Songfacts:

Live ForeverOasis

The Oasis song "Live Forever" was written in response to "I Hate Myself And I Want To Die" by Nirvana. "Kids don't need to hear that nonsense," said Noel Gallagher.

Put Your Records OnCorinne Bailey Rae

Corinne Bailey Rae's 2006 hit "Put Your Records On" borrows the opening line ("Three little birds sat on my window") from the Bob Marley song "Three Little Birds." Both songs have the same message: Don't worry, because every little thing's going to be alright.

When I'm 64The Beatles

In The Beatles' "When I'm 64," Paul McCartney asks a woman if she'll still be there for him when he's 64. In 2006, he got his answer when shortly before his 64th birthday, he and Heather Mills separated.

Try AgainAaliyah

Until December 5, 1998, a song had to be issued as a single to make the Hot 100. Aaliyah's "Try Again" was the first tune to top the chart based on airplay alone, without any sales figures being included.

I Remember EverythingZach Bryan

Zach Bryan and Kacey Musgraves had both gone through divorces when they wrote and recorded the wrenching duet "I Remember Everything." It was the first #1 Hot 100 hit for each of them.

Bad RomanceLady Gaga

Lady Gaga is a big fan of horror movies; listen for the names of these three Alfred Hitchcock films in the lyrics to "Bad Romance": Psycho, Vertigo, Rear Window.