"You were telling me the other day about an original version of 'Casey Jones' and you sang me a verse I hadn't quite heard. And, I-uh, I'd wish you'd sing it now and before you sing it, tell us a little bit about it, what you know about it."
"Well, I learned this song in, uh, 1909, when I was switchin' boxcars in Memphis for the Illinois Central. And, uh, I heard Wallace Saunders sing this song myself. He was Casey Jones' fireman. This was within three or four years of Casey's death. All the negro railroad men knew this song. A lot of them sang it, and here is the original of 'Casey Jones'."
Casey Jones was an engineer
Who told his firemen to have no fear
All I want is water and coal
And my head out the window when the drivers roll
When the drivers roll
When the drivers roll
And my head out the window when the drivers roll
Through South Memphis yard on the fly
The fireman hollered, “You've got a white eye.”
The switchmen knew by the engine’s moan
That the man at the throttle was Casey Jones
Oh, Casey Jones
Oh, Casey Jones
That the man at the throttle was Casey Jones
Well, the engine rocked, and the drivers rolled
The fireman hollered, “Lordie, save my soul!”
Casey said “I'll roll her ‘til she leaves the rails
I’m way behind time with the Southern mail"
"With the southern mail"
"Oh, that southbound mail"
"I'm way behind time with the southbound mail"
"Well, I learned this song in, uh, 1909, when I was switchin' boxcars in Memphis for the Illinois Central. And, uh, I heard Wallace Saunders sing this song myself. He was Casey Jones' fireman. This was within three or four years of Casey's death. All the negro railroad men knew this song. A lot of them sang it, and here is the original of 'Casey Jones'."
Casey Jones was an engineer
Who told his firemen to have no fear
All I want is water and coal
And my head out the window when the drivers roll
When the drivers roll
When the drivers roll
And my head out the window when the drivers roll
Through South Memphis yard on the fly
The fireman hollered, “You've got a white eye.”
The switchmen knew by the engine’s moan
That the man at the throttle was Casey Jones
Oh, Casey Jones
Oh, Casey Jones
That the man at the throttle was Casey Jones
Well, the engine rocked, and the drivers rolled
The fireman hollered, “Lordie, save my soul!”
Casey said “I'll roll her ‘til she leaves the rails
I’m way behind time with the Southern mail"
"With the southern mail"
"Oh, that southbound mail"
"I'm way behind time with the southbound mail"
Comments (0)
The minimum comment length is 50 characters.
Information
Users of Guests are not allowed to comment this publication.
There are no comments yet. You can be the first!