The 1912 version of Casey Jones by Billy Murray is clearly an older version of “Casey Jones” as most people know it today. Instead of accompanying instruments like guitar, bass, or drums, this version is composed with instruments like trumpets and tubas which gives it a more old-school sound. Casey Jones, the 1970 version by the Grateful Dead, is a song that shares the same subject and similar themes.In the 1912 version, Casey Jones is a respectable railcar worker, whereas the 1970 version of Casey Jones is a reckless cocaine-abusing man. 

The form of Billy Murray’s version is instrumental intro, A, B, instrumental, A, B, instrumental, A, B, instrumental, A, C. I’m not sure if that’s correct, but it’s a combination of instrumental segments with repeating forms of A and B. The melody of the song stays consistent, with the instruments accompanying the vocals through out the song. Murray sings the song in a way that makes it clear he is telling a story, which he emphasizes by changing his voice when singing certain words. Also, the chorus seems to be at a bit of a slower pace than the verses. The tempo of this version of Casey Jones seemed to speed up and slow down during different parts, and the emotion conveyed by the singer was neutral throughout the song in that it didn’t really change much, even when singing about Casey Jones’ death. 

The story of Bill Murray’s Casey Jones depicts a brave engineer who conducts a steam engine that delivers mail and is going to “the promised land”. During the chorus, when the backup vocals sing “Casey Jones”, the repetitiveness of that high note in the harmonizing of that phrase can feel shrill. Casey Jones was involved in a locomotive accident. At that point in the song, the lyrics to the chorus change, but keep the same melody and form. When Casey Jones’ wife received the news that Casey died, she told her children to stop crying (and get over it) because they “had another Papa on the Salt Lake line”. From this one can infer that in those times, it was not uncommon to have children from multiple fathers because the fathers were always away on business.  

Although the lyrics are different than the Bill Murray version, it’s interesting how trains are also metaphorical in both songs.  Unlike Bill Murray’s version, the one by the Grateful Dead is accompanied by guitars, drums, and has a much clearer quality to it. This version of Casey Jones uses traditional lyrics , the driving of a train, as a metaphor to the Grateful Dead’s use of drugs. The train being at the station on time is a metaphor for the driver using cocaine on time, “at a quarter to ten, you know it’s driving again, driving that train high on cocaine, Casey Jones you better watch your speed.” 

I must say that I’ve always really liked the Grateful Dead version of Casey Jones. The form of the Grateful Dead song is A, A, B, A, A, C and has a relaxed, jamming kind of repetition. Jerry Garcia stresses the last word of each verse, and the instrumentals change when he sings “trouble ahead, lady in red”, which sets a foreshadowing feel. The instrumentals of this version of Casey Jones are great, it is very recognizable and enjoyable, and the vocals are catchy and once in your head, star to sink in and impress upon the listener a visual of the story of Casey Jones.