Casey Jones (song)
Encyclopedia
"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
. The song first appeared on the Dead's 1970 album Workingman's Dead
. Subsequently it was included on a number of their live albums.
The Grateful Dead played "Casey Jones" in concert on a regular basis from June 1969 through October 1974. After that, they continued playing it live, but less often. In total they performed the song in concert more than 300 times.
"Casey Jones" is about a railroad engineer
whose train crashes. It was inspired by the story of an actual engineer named Casey Jones
. The engineer's exploits were also sung of in an earlier folk song called "The Ballad of Casey Jones
", which the Grateful Dead played live several times.
"Casey Jones" has received significant airplay on progressive rock
, album-oriented rock
, and classic rock
radio stations over the years, and so is one of the Dead's songs that is more recognizable by non-Deadhead
s. It includes the line, "Drivin' that train, high on cocaine
, Casey Jones you better watch your speed."
The song was released as a downloadable track for the game Rock Band
on March 4, 2008.
Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, and for live performances of long...
. The music was written by Jerry Garcia
Jerry Garcia
Jerome John "Jerry" Garcia was an American musician best known for his lead guitar work, singing and songwriting with the band the Grateful Dead...
, and the lyrics are by Robert Hunter
Robert Hunter (lyricist)
Robert C. Hunter is an American lyricist, singer-songwriter, translator, and poet, best known for his association with Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead.-Biography:He was born Robert Burns in San Luis Obispo, California...
. The song first appeared on the Dead's 1970 album Workingman's Dead
Workingman's Dead
Workingman's Dead is the fourth studio album by the Grateful Dead. It was recorded in February 1970 and originally released on June 14, 1970....
. Subsequently it was included on a number of their live albums.
The Grateful Dead played "Casey Jones" in concert on a regular basis from June 1969 through October 1974. After that, they continued playing it live, but less often. In total they performed the song in concert more than 300 times.
"Casey Jones" is about a railroad engineer
Railroad engineer
A railroad engineer, locomotive engineer, train operator, train driver or engine driver is a person who drives a train on a railroad...
whose train crashes. It was inspired by the story of an actual engineer named Casey Jones
Casey Jones
John Luther Jones was an American railroad engineer from Jackson, Tennessee, who worked for the Illinois Central Railroad...
. The engineer's exploits were also sung of in an earlier folk song called "The Ballad of Casey Jones
The Ballad of Casey Jones
"The Ballad of Casey Jones" is a traditional song about railroad engineer Casey Jones and his death at the controls of the train he was driving. 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,...
", which the Grateful Dead played live several times.
"Casey Jones" has received significant airplay on progressive rock
Progressive rock (radio format)
Progressive rock is a radio station programming format that prospered in the late 1960s and 1970s, in which the disc jockeys are given wide latitude in what they may play, similar to the freeform format but with the proviso that some kind of rock music is almost always what is played...
, album-oriented rock
Album-oriented rock
Album-oriented rock is an American FM radio format focusing on album tracks by rock artists.-Music played:Most radio formats are based on a select, tight rotation of hit singles...
, and classic rock
Classic rock
Classic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
radio stations over the years, and so is one of the Dead's songs that is more recognizable by non-Deadhead
Deadhead
Deadhead or Dead Head is a name given to fans of the American jam band, the Grateful Dead. In the 1970s, a number of fans began travelling to see the band in as many shows or festival venues as they could. With large numbers of people thus attending strings of shows, a community developed...
s. It includes the line, "Drivin' that train, high on cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
, Casey Jones you better watch your speed."
The song was released as a downloadable track for the game Rock Band
Rock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
on March 4, 2008.
Cover versions
- "Casey Jones" is performed by Warren ZevonWarren ZevonWarren William Zevon was an American rock singer-songwriter and musician noted for including his sometimes sardonic opinions of life in his musical lyrics, composing songs that were sometimes humorous and often had political or historical themes.Zevon's work has often been praised by well-known...
and David LindleyDavid Lindley (musician)David Perry Lindley is an American musician who is notable for his work with Jackson Browne, Warren Zevon, and other rock musicians. He has worked extensively in other genres as well, performing with artists as varied as Curtis Mayfield and Dolly Parton...
on Deadicated: A Tribute to the Grateful DeadDeadicated: A Tribute to the Grateful DeadDeadicated: A Tribute to the Grateful Dead is a 1991 tribute album with music from the Grateful Dead performed by various artists. According to the sleeve notes, the compilation is a rainforest benefit album, with significant proceeds from its sale being donated to the Rainforest Action Network and...
, a 1991 album by various artists. - The song is included in Pickin' on the Grateful Dead: A TributePickin' on the Grateful Dead: A TributePickin' on the Grateful Dead: A Tribute is a 1997 tribute album to the Grateful Dead consisting of thirteen of their songs replayed in a bluegrass style.- Track listing :# "Althea" - 5:31...
, a bluegrassBluegrass musicBluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and a sub-genre of country music. It has mixed roots in Scottish, English, Welsh and Irish traditional music...
album of Grateful Dead songs. - Another bluegrass version of the song appears on the 2008 album Rex (Live at the Fillmore)Rex (Live at the Fillmore)Rex is the thirteenth album by Keller Williams, recorded live on February 8, 2006 at the Fillmore Auditorium in Denver, Colorado....
by Keller WilliamsKeller WilliamsKeller Williams is an American musician from Fredericksburg, Virginia, who began performing in the early 1990s. He is also known by the names K-Dub or just Keller, when performing. Williams' music combines elements of bluegrass, folk, alternative rock, reggae, electronica/dance, jazz, funk, and...
, Keith MoseleyKeith MoseleyKeith Moseley is an American musician and songwriter, who played bass guitar among other instruments for The String Cheese Incident, a jamband from Boulder, Colorado, of which he was a founding member....
and Jeff AustinJeff AustinJeff Austin is a mandolinist and singer best known for being a part of the Yonder Mountain String Band....
.