Written by: Stever Goodman & John Prine
Performed by: Willie Nelson & Johnny Cash
Appears on: Highwayman-1985, The Highwayman Collection-2000, et al.
[Nelson:]
Back in eighteen ninety-nine,
Everybody sang, "Auld Lang Syne."
A hundred years would take a long, long time,
For every little boy and girl.
Now there's just one thing,
That I would like to know.
Where did the twentieth century go?
I swear it was there just a minute ago,
All over this world.
[Both & backup singers:]
All over this world, all over this world.
The twentieth century is almost over, all over this world.
[Cash:]
Does anybody recall the great depression?
I read all about it in the "True Confession."
Sorry I was late for the recording session,
But somebody put me on hold.
Did anybody see them linoleum floors,
Petroleum jelly and the two world wars?
They went around in revolvin' doors,
All over this world.
[Both & backup singers:]
All over this world, all over this world.
The twentieth century is almost over, almost over, almost over.
The twentieth century is almost over, all over this world.
[Nelson:]
Old Father Time is a rumblin' and a rappin',
Standin' at the winda' thumpin' and a tappin'.
Everybody's waitin' for somethin' to happen,
I hope it don't happen to you.
[Cash:]
You know the Judgment Day is gettin' nearer,
There it is in the rearview mirror.
If you'd duck down I could see a little clearer.
All over this world.
[Both & backup singers:]
All over this world, all over this world.
The twentieth century is almost over, almost over, almost over.
The twentieth century is almost over, all over this world.
All over this world, all over this world.
The twentieth century is almost over, almost over, almost over.
The twentieth century is almost over, all over this world.
(Yes!)
All over this world, all over this world.
[Fade.]
The twentieth century is almost over, almost over, almost over.
The twentieth century is almost over, all over...
