Talkin' Casey

written by "Mississippi" John Hurt
published by Wynwood Music Company Inc and The Adage Group LLC

Andy Cohen's performed lyrics

This is the story of Casey Jones. He was a mighty engineer. His train was never late, he was never early, always right on time, every time, every single time, every single time except that one time. That was the first time and that was the last time. That time Casey was layin' up in the south Memphis yard waitin' for train time. Mrs. Casey was having a bad time. Mrs. Casey was having a dream, and in the dream Casey had a wreck.

She gathered all her children around her, tied them to her apron string, down they went to the south Memphis yard, down where Elvis lives. She walked all around the yard looking for engine number 382. That's Casey's engine. They found Casey's engine and they found Casey. There he was, layin' back, waiting for train time.

Mrs. Casey she hollered up in the cab. She said: "Casey, Casey Jones, don't leave me here.
Casey Jones, don't leave me here." Their little children commenced to crying: "Daddy, Daddy, don't leave us here. Daddy, don't leave us here."

That was too much for Casey. He told his fireman, his name was Sim, "Hit the bell, Sim. Let's go."

You know there was only one track going in and out of that yard, and all the trains got to take it, comin' and goin'. Casey's engine was no different, goin' over that track, all bumpy and tore up, like this.
(guitar sound effects)

Finally get out of that yard, go down, goin' down past South Haven, down the Mississippi line.

Everybody along the track knowed Casey by the sound of his whistle. They heard him comin', comin' by Byhalia, Olive Branch, Mississippi, that's where you get that good catfish, Olive Branch, Mississippi. Hello Holly Springs, headin' toward Meridian. Makin' some good time.

What'd'ya know, some fool left some sheeps grazin' on that railroad track. Casey blowed his whistle for them to get off the track. They wouldn't get off the track. He had to stop his train and run 'em off. I heard Casey when he was cuttin' down.

Casey stopped his engine, run down along the tracks where them sheeps were. "Go home sheeps. You got no business on them railroad tracks." So the sheep went home. Casey run back to his engine. He jumped back up in the cab and threw the Johnson bar all the way back. He had to make up his time.

The hoboes wouldn't even mess with that train goin' so fast. They'd stand by the tracks with their hat in their hand.

Cussin' out them sheep, for makin' him late. "Done gone them sheep, dog gone them sheep, dog gone them sheep."

Goin' so fast, the big drivin' wheels look like they're about to catch up with the little pony trucks in front. Everybody along the track knowed Casey by the sound of his whistle. They heard him comin'. They heard him comin' so fast, 'til they thought he was gonna have a wreck. Heard one good Christian woman singin' "Lord have mercy. Save me Lord."

"Lord, oh Lord have mercy. Lord, Save me Lord."

Casey had a wreck. Don't you have a wreck.