Mississippi John Hurt’s version of Casey Jones differs from Fiddlin’ John Carson’s rendition in a number of different ways. Although the two were produced only four or five years apart (the exact date of John Carson’s edition isn’t known exactly, although believed to be around 1923-24) there are a number of distinct differences. For one, John Carson’s edition of Casey Jones is sung while playing a violin compared to John Hurt’s version with the (finger pick) guitar. While listening to each song, I could tell that despite the different instruments John Carson’s version was sung a lot slower than John Hurt’s version. The lyrics were a little bit different as well, almost as if John Hurt put his own touch to the song.

The melody of Fiddlin’ John Carson’s version inflicts sadness upon the listener, almost making it a very emotional song. This difference in melody makes it distinct which song is which. Mississippi John Hurt’s version is almost happy in a way. Although the song tells the life and death of Casey Jones, the rhythm in the song is upbeat and happy, showing that despite Jones’ death everything is not lost. In a way people will remember Casey Jones as the brave person that he was because the song never loses its form. If the song lost its rhythm and turned emotional, much like Fiddlin’ John Carson’s version, than it might be thought of as a depressing song, having the tune change after the death of Casey Jones. However, since Mississippi John Hurt never changed the rhythm, we see a song filled with emotions that aren’t sad or depressing or associated with death in any manner. 

Fiddlin’ John Carson’s version is slower, as I mentioned before, but it’s also the way the song is sung that inflicts this emotion [of grief] upon the listener. By singing the song slower and more cautiously, Carson is developing a mood of grief and sadness over the loss of Casey Jones, the brave engineer that died. In contrast we see in Mississippi John Hurt’s version that the rhythm could really be suited to any song, happy or sad, and it still would be an uplifting song, no matter the context.

This song represents the very definition of folk music. As folk music includes any oral tradition that is carried on throughout generations this song is a great example. The story of Casey Jones and what happened that day is demonstrated through music (the communication) which brings that story to life. One interesting thing about folk music is that the sound of the music and the lyrics don’t always go together (Carson, Benjamin Oct. 8 2009). This is obvious in Mississippi John Hurt’s version of the song as the melody and rhythm are joyful but the context or message of the song and the story of what happened is definitely not (although he was brave, the story tells of his death). The tone of both of these songs are in opposition, one of life after death and one of death. This may be due to the race of each singer (Carson, a white man) versus (Hurt, an African American). It doesn’t make sense for Hurt’s version to be joyful as African Americas experienced great oppression during the 1900s-yet it is. This may be due to the fact that Hurt perspective of life is dramatically different from Carsons’. Perhaps, due to Hurt’s life experiences concerning slavery and the life of a black man in the 1900s, Hurt knows there must be something greater after life on this earth and that we should rejoice when thinking about the afterlife. This may explain the joyful rhythm in his song compared to Carson’s version.