While we are on the subject, here is a song recorded in the 20's by Earl McDonald's Original Louisville Jug Band about a race between Casey Jones and Steamboat Bill.CASEY 'N' BILL
Now down the river came Steamboat Bill
Spied Casey Jones coming over the hill
The engine was a puffin and the boiler was hot
While the coons on board done the turkey trot
The railroad run down long side the bank
Casey crawled out from behind the tank
Bill said to Casey "you're a racing man
Get up your steam and go as fast as you can"
Chorus:
Casey 'n' Bill down the Mississippi
Casey 'n' Bill all full of glee
Casey 'n' Bill down the Mississippi
Tryin' to break the record of the Robert E. Lee
Now down the river about a mile below
Was the place where they had to go
They both were running neck and neck
When they reached the bridge gonna be a wreck
So Casey reached up the whistle he blew
The draw bridge opened to let him through
They both come together and they both must die
Cause the race was over and it was a tie
Now in the wreck it was a shame
There was no one that knew their names
When the wives got the message their husbands was dead
They both raised the river with the tears they shed
The little kids didn't seem to bother
When someone told them that they lost their father
One said to the other now don't cry and fret
We don't need no daddy, ma's a suffragette
And when they died no one know
Up to heaven is where they wanted to go
St. Peter said boys you must relate
Something good you done to get through this gate
Bill said I know at one time
We gave 20 cents to a man that was blind
St. Peter said you know that don't go Bill
So you can take your 20 cents and go to Jeffersonville