Joe Hill's 'Casey Jones' Songtext
von Pete Seeger

The workers on the S.P. line for strike sent out a call
But Casey Jones the engineer he wouldn′t strike at all
His boiler it was leakin' and the drivers on the bum
And the engines and the bearin′ they were all out o' plum

Casey Jones, kept his junkpile runnin'
Casey Jones, was doin′ double-time
Casey Jones, got a wooden medal
For bein′ good and faithful on the S.P. line

Well the workers said to Casey "Won't you help us win this strike"
But Casey said "Let me alone, you′d better take hike"
Well Casey's wheezy engine ran right off the wheezy track
And Casey hit the river with an awful smack


Casey Jones, hit the river bottom
Casey Jones, broke his bloomin′ spine
Casey Jones, became an angelino
He took a trip to heaven on the S.P. line

Well Casey got to heaven, way up to that pearly gate
He said "I'm Casey Jones, the guy that pulled the S.P. freight"
"You′re just the man" said Peter, "our musicians are on strike
You can get a job a-scabbin' any time you like"

Casey Jones, got a job in heaven
Casey Jones, was doin' mighty fine
Casey Jones, went scabbin′ on the angels
Just like he did to workers on the S.P. line

Well the angels got together, they said it wasn′t fair
For Casey Jones to go around a-scabbin' everywhere
The angels union number twenty-three they sure were there
They promptly fired Casey down the golden stair


Casey Jones, went to hell a-flyin′
Casey Jones, the devil said "Oh fine
Casey Jones, get busy shovellin' sulphur
It′s what ya get for scabbin' on the S.P. line"