By the way, as of this writing (August, 2014) Randy Sparks was still alive and well and planning on touring with a current lineup of the Ministrels until November of 2014, after which the word "retirement" keeps coming up. Casey Jones said before he died There were five more things he'd like to ride: Bicycle, tricycle, automobile, Bow-legged woman and a ferris wheel. My guess is that somebody with money is planning to put out a new collection and they want to make certain that nothing even resembling a Johnny Cash version of Casey Jones is available anywhere. All material, illustrations, and content of this web site is copyrighted © 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, Published: November 8, 2010. - Also, since I first posted this page, some music or record company has had Johnny Cash's excellent versions of this song literally scrubbed from the Internet. Where's Johnny? But if you want the song to make sense to railroaders, you could sing "a big ten-wheeler." Casey Jones was responsible for the roughly 200-mile journey from Memphis to Canton, Mississippi. And it's worth remembering that, when the Minstrels' version came out, the original "Casey Jones" song was being treated as a joke or children's song by everybody but folk musicians, and the folk musicians were ignoring it altogether. He was a Tennessee mountain boy. You could hear his whistle for a hundred miles, he kissed his wife at the station door On a side track clear by the main The most famous train wreck in American folklore is, arguably, that of Casey Jones. In other words, a link to Amazon's Mp3 search page would not be family friendly. The most often performed versions today resemble Seibert and Newton's version, although several folk singers, perhaps following a folk tradition observed by poet Carl Sandburg, tell the story to a modified tune with several verses "borrowed" from other, lesser-known railroad songs. That was intentional - Sparks wanted to put on an evening's entertainment patterned after the old-time ministrel shows without the Stephen Foster songs and Jim Crow humor. If I ever stumble across the old LP, I'll check the liner notes for an update. The amazing thing is not that Casey died, or even that he died trying to stop the train, but that he slowed it down so much that none of his passengers were seriously injured, a remarkable feat of skill. Which is my way of saying, if you have a recording of Johnny Cash singing this song, guard it with your life. Casey was neither the first nor the last locomotive engineer to go to "glory" pulling on the brakes, but Saunders' song put him on the path to another kind of glory. You know it's gonna be a terrible ride. Casey Jones By John Garst "Casey Jones, the Brave Engineer," was published in 1909 by T. Lawrence Seibert (words) and Eddie Newton (music). Sparks' version of Casey Jones is an entirely different song from the folk version, but it's catchy and fun. Whatever else you get out of our pages, I hope you enjoy your music and figure out how to make enjoyable music for those around you as well. That line is not in all versions of the song, but curiously as a boy I had a children's record of train songs (Casey Jones, Jawn Henry, Rock Island Line, I've Been Working on the Railroad, etc) and on that record they included the "you got another pappa" line. My take is that someone on the IC had "dropped the ball," and it was easier to blame the victim than whoever had really caused the accident. Many train crashes in similar situations had resulted in the wooden coaches driving into each other like a collapsing telescope, killing or maiming everyone on the train. When we get a question about train songs, we post it there, so other people can see it and respond if they want to. Back about 1964, Randy Sparks wrote a whole new song to celebrate this hero. Casey Jones--two locomotives I couldn't … Headaches and heartaches And the old conductor set his head out the winder Casey Jones song. "Casey Jones" by Randy Sparks, as performed by The New Christy Minstrels, I'll tell you a story all about John Luther, Click here to return to the Classic Train Songs page. Though Jones and his fireman Sim Webb left Memphis 95 minutes late, he was only five minutes behind as he approached Vaughan, Mississippi. Copyright: Writer(s): Johnny R. Cash Lyrics Terms of Use, Come all you rounders if you wanna hear Here is the only known photo fo Casey Jones running a train. You know it's: The first version was published in 1902. I was also able to find a copy of Seibert and Newton's sheet music, so if you want to download it click on the following links: page 1, page 2, and page 3. To close out this year’s train song series, here’s a jaunty little song about the most well known train engineer in American History, Casey Jones (also known as “The Ballad of Casey Jones”). All is not lost, however, I just tracked down the source of one of my favorite Johnny Cash "Casey Jones" video - an old television special that was available on DVD for a while. And the rain was falling down. For questions, comments, suggestions, trouble reports, etc. In other words, they were more "musical theater" than "music group" in the contemporary folk or pop music sense. Switchman's sleeping, train Hundred and Two Is on the wrong track and headed for you Driving that train, high on cocaine Casey Jones you'd better watch your speed Trouble ahead, trouble behind And you know that notion just crossed my mind Trouble with you is the … Number 638 began to growl like thunder. Well, the Joneses pride and joy. The text, set to a sprightly tune, tells a story of the death of engineer Casey Jones in a train wreck. Porter called Casey about half past four Kissed his wife at the station door Climb to the cab with his orders in his hand "The Ballad of Casey Jones" was written about a real locomotive engineer, John Luther "Casey" Jones. According to legend, Jones … To modern ears, some of the old Minstrel tracks sound more like the Lawrence Welk singers with banjos than a legitimate folk group. I see railroad official said The sad part of this is that the purge removed several live performances that have never been available on any recording, and are never likely to be. It's a manual signup, because it's the only way we can block hundreds of robospam attempts a week, so it may take us a couple days to get you signed in, but once you are in, you can post in any of the forums. For more information, please click here. It tells of how Jones and his fireman Sim Webb raced their locomotive to make up for lost time, but discovered another train ahead of them on the line, and how Jones remained on board to try to stop the train as Webb jumped to safety. If you have a favorite version, or a favorite performer that I've left out, please "Casey Jones" is a song by the American rock band the Grateful Dead.The music was written by Jerry Garcia, and the lyrics are by Robert Hunter.Hunter stated in a 2015 interview with Rolling Stone that "Casey Jones" didn't start out as a song, it just suddenly popped into my mind: "driving that train, high on cocaine, Casey Jones, you better watch your speed." After the accident, the railroad blamed Casey for ignoring warnings, including a flagman waving a lantern, and charges placed on the track which would have exploded, giving audible warning of the danger ahead. According to Fuld : "John Luther 'Casey' Jones was an engineer on Illinois Central Railroad's best railroad train, the 'Cannon Ball Express,' from Chicago to … Casey Jones orders in his hand on a 68 wheeler course he won his fame Casey Jones, Casey Jones Casey Jones was a railroad engineer known for his speed who died in 1900, when he collided with another train. There goes Casey, and he's making up time. Casey Jones climbed in the cabin Casey took the route but now was nearly 1hr 45 minutes behind. Jones believed that with a modern engine and a relatively light load, it would be possible to make up time and arrive in Canton close to on time. He drove the Illinois Central Line down in the cabin Casey Jones climbed in the cabin Casey Jones orders in his hand Casey Jones leanin' out the window taking a trip to the Promised Land Headaches and heartaches and all kinds of pain all the part of a railroad train Sweat and toil the good and the grand part of the life of a railroad man Casey Jones climbed in the cabin Casey Jones orders in his hand all the part of a railroad train Everybody knew by the engine's moan But unknown to Jones that night, there were two trains on the siding, and their combined length was too long for the siding. We're eight hours late with the southbound mail, We'll be on time or we're leavin' the rails That train was longer than a hundred miles. The night was dark, and from the yard Eventually, however, the New Christy Minstrels were eclipsed by acts that put on a better show of authenticity and relevance. about this page or this site, please These are the words as far as I can make them out. © 2021 METROLYRICS, A RED VENTURES COMPANY. jump Sam jump or we'll all be dead The music was written by Jerry Garcia, and the lyrics are by Robert Hunter. Of course, if you're signed up, you can post questions and replies yourself. The cover calls it the "Greatest Comedy Hit in Years" and "The Only Comedy Railroad Song." He is leaning out of the window while the engine is … Casey Jones--going to bump Casey died with a whistle in his hand. Switchmans sleeping, train hundred and two is On the wrong track and headed for you. It may have been a bowdlerized version of six-thirty-eight, Casey's favorite locomotive. And you can set your clock on Casey's whistle Though out of print, used copies are available on Amazon. The song was written around 1900 by Wallace Saunders and Eddie Newton. For there's two locomotives that are going to bump. , you've see a modern parody of their approach. High stepping on down the line. Tom Rush's version below is an example of that tradition. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. If you've seen A Mighty Wind he's a good engineer to be a laying dead Turns out that the song's popularity has caused a host of non-family-friendly offshoots, including a rock act with explicit lyrics as well as several rewrites of the song that involve drug smuggling, "scabbing" and other, er, non-railroading topics. Way back in 1900, a fellow engineer called out sick. In fact, when I stumbled across it recently, I realized that I still remembered almost every word, guitar lick, and key change. Casey Jones leanin' out the window taking a trip to the Promised Land. Eventually the IC stopped making the claim, though I don't know if the original accident report was ever retracted. Casey Jones leanin' out the window It was on that grade down upon Mississippi, Mrs. Jones refuted that rumor to her death, and most children's albums leave that verse off, but there you have it. This song is also known as "Ballad Of Casey Jones" or simply "Casey Jones". This song is available on James Coffey's My Mama Was A Train. He climbed in the cabin, with his orders in his hand The popularity of "The Ballad of Casey Jones" is an anomaly among railroad songs - it didn't start out by becoming spreading through the working and disadvantaged classes, then gradually creeping into public attention with the rise of Folk, Country, or (in England) Skiffle music, say, sung by "Boxcar Willie," or the "Singing Brakeman," or Hudie "Leadbelly" Ledbetter. This is the Hunter/Garcia original, not to be confused with the traditional song Casey Jones, which the Dead also played, as did Jerry with some of his other bands. A few folks actually sing it that way. "The Ballad of Casey Jones", also known as "Casey Jones, the Brave Engineer" or simply "Casey Jones", is a traditional American folk song about railroad engineer Casey Jones and his death at the controls of the train he was driving. Dead on the rail was a passenger train And the drivers began to roll Unfortunately for Casey, the next car was loaded with lumber and far less forgiving. Casey Jones climbed in the cabin, Casey Jones orders in his hand The studio recording is no longer available from Amazon, and countless YouTube videos have been taken down. Anyone who’s heard the classic American song “ The Ballad of Casey Jones ” knows what happened next: Before dawn, near Vaughn, Miss., the train was … Song MeaningCasey Jones was the one of the worlds most famous train engineers.He ran the CannonBall Route between Chicagp and Memphis. And he blew that whistle, Casey Jones leanin' out the window The first song known to have been written about Casey Jones was by Wallace Saunders, an engine wiper for the Illinois Central; Mississippi John Hurt popularized it. Note for 2014 - I've updated many things on this page, including adding the New Christy Minstrel's version of the song near the bottom. The Ballad Of Casey Jones Lyrics: Come, all you rounders, if you want to hear / The story told of a brave engineer; / Casey Jones was the rounder’s name / A high right-wheeler of mighty fame.” Singer-songwriter Randy Sparks wrote several such "reboots" for the New Christy Minstrels, a group he founded that had big pop radio hits with "Green Green," The Theme Song segment from the Casey Jones Television show. If you want to sign up to add to the discussions, click: here. The Wreck - Jones' final run occurred when he took over for a sick coworker, driving the llinois Central's "New Orleans Special" passenger train from Memphis toward Canton. How he come down here from Caycee town, The Locomotive - Casey's favorite locomotive on the Illinois Central was a Consolidation (2-8-0), number 638. Soon tall tales began to be told about the speedy and heroic Casey, and it wasn’t long before he entered the realm of American myth. Sweat and toil the good and the grand He was a popular guy, well liked. His balls were covered with the whorehouse itch. He was in the locomotive, too, and he had seen no fireman or heard no charges. This phrase makes no sense to railroaders. And he laid on the brake, Well Jones said fireman now don't you fret, Sam Webb said we ain't a givin' up yet I learned this version of the song from the amazing Jim Glaser. Come all ye rounders, if you wanna hear A story about a brave engineer Casey Jones was the rounder's name On a big eight wheeler, he won his fame. Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter came up with the line "Drivin' that train, high on cocaine, Casey Jones you'd better watch your speed," which he wrote down and put in his pocket. Said this is the trip to the Promised Land Or maybe there were insurance issues. He was already well known among Mississippi railroaders for various exploits before he died in the famous train crash of April 30, 1900. Near Vaughan, Jones expected to pass a local train that was supposed to be on a siding, since the "New Orleans Special" had the right-of-way. On the other hand, the song has certain suffered from overexposure - it's been bowdlerized, satirized, rewritten and (some would say) butchered more than all other railroad songs put together. Casey Jones climbed in the cabin Caller called Casey bout half past four On the Memphis Cannonball Casey Jones--two locomotives So Randy Sparks' song, which was relatively lighthearted nevertheless seemed more like a song for adults than the original tune. Though the arrangement may sound dated today, it has a very catchy tune and clever lyrics. In addition, the frames of the caboose and the first two freight cars (loaded with hay and corn respectively) were somewhat forgiving, further easing the effect of the impact. The Song - Wallace Saunders, an African-American friend of Casey's who worked in the roundhouse, soon made up a song about the incident. taking a trip to the Promised Land It is song number 3247 in the Roud Folk Song Index. You could hear his whistle for a hundred miles, You could hear his whistle for a hundred miles, that the man at the throttle was Casey Jones the story about a brave engineer, Casey Jones was the roller's name And when one of the largest locomotives of its day jumps the track, even at an estimated 35 mph, you don't walk away. Driving that train, high on cocaine, Casey jones is ready, watch your speed. Read about the most famous locomotive engineer of all time. High stepping on down the line. Eventually the vaudeville team of T. Lawrence Seibert and Eddie Newton published their version, which they billed as a comedy song. With a hand on a whistle and a hand on a brake The ghost of Casey Jones, some local folks say, haunts the Casey Jones Museum, near where the fast-living engineer made his fatal last ride and … Casey Jones, a Classic Train Song from Family Garden Trains™ "The Ballad of Casey Jones" was written about a real locomotive engineer, John Luther "Casey" Jones. High stepping on down the line. Lyrics to 'Casey Jones' by Grateful Dead. When he was 16 years old, Jones started working for railroads–first the Mobile & Ohio and later the Illinois Central. Casey Jones was the rounder’s name On an eight six-wheeler boys he won his fame. John Luther "Casey" Jones (March 14, 1863 – April 30, 1900) was an American railroader who was killed when his passenger train collided with a stalled freight train at Vaughan, Mississippi. Chorus: Well, maybe two. You couldn't see the bright lights of town. The Ministrel's 1964 album Land of Giants included songs about legendary American heroes like Paul Bunyan, John Henry, and Casey Jones. Casey Jones said before he died Casey Jones, Casey Jones “Casey Jones” is one of the band’s classic story songs, and it utilizes a classic American folk hero as its subject—AND it is about a train. He saw the cars of a big freight train. He was already well known among Mississippi railroaders for various exploits before he died in the famous train crash of April 30, 1900. Today’s post was written by Paul. I swear it's: Casey Jones orders in his hand But the night he died, he was driving a coworker's favorite Ten-Wheeler (4-6-0), number 382. Trouble ahead, trouble behind, And you know that notion just crossed my mind. Casey Jones leanin' out the window, taking a trip to the Promised Land Rather it stormed the country's music halls, and was often as not performed by early 20th-century pop stars with an orchestra or an early jazz ensemble playing in the background. And for anyone under eighty or over forty, when you think of the song "This Land is Your Land" the first version you hear in your head is probably their version. contact me and I'll try to track them down. Also, if you don't see the link for a particular song, hit refresh - it seems like Amazon can never populate all of the links at the same time. 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