Lyrics: Robert Hunter
Music: Jerry Garcia
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.
The latter is normally called "The Ballad Of Casey Jones" in setlists.
ChorusNotes
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 (note 1)
This old engine makes it on time
Leaves Central Station 'bout a quarter to nine
Hits River Junction at seventeen to
At a quarter to ten you know it's travelling again
[chorus]
Trouble ahead, the lady in red
Take my advice you'd be better off dead
Switchman's sleeping, train Hundred and Two
Is on the wrong track and headed for you
[chorus]
Trouble with you is the trouble with me
Got two good eyes but we still don't see
Come round the bend, you know it's the end
The fireman screams and the engine just gleams
[chorus - repeated]
Recordings from dead.net Tapers Section
"The Dead" Concert Recordings
Furthur Digital Downloads and CDs
Ratdoglive CDs and downloads
Phil Lesh and Friends Digital Download Series
Weir-Robinson-Greene Trio Live!
| Other Recordings | |||||
| Date | Recorded By | Album | |||
| 1973 | King's Road | Watkin's Glen | |||
| 1991 | Warren Zevon | Deadicated | |||
| 1996 | Billy & Terry Smith | Long Live The Dead | |||
| 1996 | Wailing Souls | Fire On The Mountain: Reggae Celebrates The Grateful Dead | |||
| 1997 | David West et al | Pickin' On The Dead ... A Tribute | |||
| 1999 | Steve Marsh et al | Swingin' To The Grateful Dead | |||
| 2000 | McEuen & Salazar | Tie-Die Yippie Ki Yay | |||
| 2000 | Vassar Clements | Dead Grass | |||
| 2001 | Various (Michael Hill) | Blues Tribute To The Grateful Dead | |||
| 2003 | Grateful Guitar | David Cullen | |||
| 8 Feb 2006 | Live At The Fillmore | Grateful Grass | |||
| 2010 | One Hesher, Two Punks And A Hippy | Punk Is Dead | |||