Lyr Req: Casey Jones (Fiddlin' John Carson)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fiddlin' John Carson's Casey Jones
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Dec 07 - 09:49 PM

A corrected version for Roberto would now read:

CASEY JONES
(As recorded by Fiddlin' John Carson)

Come all you rounders if you want to hear
The story I'm a-tellin' of a brave engineer
Casey Jones was the rounder's name
On a six eight wheeler, boys, he won his fame

The caller called Casey at a half past four
Kissed his wife at the kitchen door
Mounted to the cabin with his orders in his hand
Took a farewell trip unto the Promised Land

Casey Jones a-mounted to the cabin
Casey Jones, with his orders in his hand
Casey Jones a-mounted to the cabin
Took a farewell trip unto the Promised Land

Was on a Friday mornin', she's a lookin' like rain
Around the curve come a passenger train
On the pallet lay little Bill Jones
A good old rounder, but he's dead and gone

He looked at his watch and his watch was slow
Looked at his water and his water was low
Turned to his fireman, 'Pick your place to jump
While the two locomotives are a-bound to bump!'

Casey Jones, two locomotives
Casey Jones, are a-bound to bump
Casey Jones, two locomotives
There's two locomotives are a-bound to bump

You oughta been there and a-seen the sight
People were screamin', both black and white
For I was there, it is a natural fact
Seen four box-cars when they left the track

Well, at the Four Mile Curve
Where Johnny Devine he lost his nerve
Poor old Casey didn't weaken a bit
Had his hands on the throttle when the engines hit

Casey went to Heaven, went straight from here
He told St Peter he's a brave engineer
St Peter said, "Well, you're looking mighty bold
I guess I'll have to put you back to shovelling coal"

'Mama, mama, I can see
How Papa got killed on the Santa Fe';
'Go to bed, children, 'fore you cry yourself hoarse
I got you another daddy on the police force'

Casey Jones, I got another papa
Casey Jones, on the police force
Casey Jones, I got you another daddy
And I got another daddy on the police force

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fiddlin' John Carson's Casey Jones
From: Stewie
Date: 09 Dec 07 - 09:18 PM

My apologies, Jim. I have confused my correction and Roberto's original - I already made that correction.

However, the last line does sound like it begins with 'while': 'While the two locomotives are a-bound to bump'.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fiddlin' John Carson's Casey Jones
From: Stewie
Date: 09 Dec 07 - 08:00 PM

Thanks, Jim. I agree that 'pallet' certainly makes more sense. I was puzzled by that line. It sounds like 'pallet' once you point it out.

You are right - it sounds more like 'four'.

Listening again, I am not happy with what I put for the last two lines of stanza five. It now sounds more like:

Turned to his fireman, 'Pick your place to jump'
'While the two locomotives are a-bound to bump'

What do you think?

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fiddlin' John Carson's Casey Jones
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 09 Dec 07 - 07:29 PM

Verse 4, line 3: I would favor "pallet" rather than "pilot," a pallet being a makeshift bed, usually made of folded blankets. I'm not real familiar with old railroading procedures, but I'd guess the fireman had to report for work much earlier than the engineer did, to stoke up the fire and build up a head of steam before the scheduled departure time. I suppose after the fire was built, he might even have time for a nap.

Verse 7, line 4: It sounds more like "four" boxcars to me.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fiddlin' John Carson's Casey Jones
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 08 Dec 07 - 02:22 PM

Pleased to be of help. I'm not bad on explaining technical stuff that other Mudcatters have helped me with.
Stewie is ace on listening to recordings.
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fiddlin' John Carson's Casey Jones
From: GUEST,Roberto
Date: 08 Dec 07 - 05:03 AM

It works. Thank you very much. Many interesting songs. Best wishes. R

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fiddlin' John Carson's Casey Jones
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 07 Dec 07 - 08:08 AM

A note on Real Audio (the above posting was getting a bit over long).

Real Audio, like MP3 is a format for saving and playing back sound files on a computer. Like MP3, "Real" files are much smaller than a full digital audio recording. Both formats manage this by throwing away a lot of information compared with a CD quality digital recording.

If you want to just play downloaded "Real" files on your computer, all you need is a compatible player. Real Networks, the people who invented "Real Audio" provide a free player (realplayer), but it is a nuisance because it tries to take over your computer, connect to the internet when you don't want it to and send god knows what private information back to Real Networks. Because of this, a lot of people regard it as spyware, and will not allow it to be installed on their PC.
The link I gave in an earlier posting is to Real Alternative, which allows you to plat "Real" files without using "Realplayer". This doesn't install anything dodgy on your PC and works pretty well on all except a couple of Real Player formats of file.

If, however, you want to put the tracks onto an audio CD, you need to convert them to a format a CD player will recognise. It will not play "Real" files.
Converting to a different format used to be difficult, as Real Networks tried to prevent anyone selling software which would do the job. Nowadays, there seem to be a few programmes available which will do the conversion, some are free. Here is a link to information about converting from Real Audio format - BLICKY. It has some links to conversion progs.

If you convert from Real Audio to MP3 there can be a serious reduction in sound quality. This is because, as mentioned earlier, both formats produce small files by throwing away bits of information. The two formats however throw out DIFFERENT information from the original sound file. Once the information is gone, it cannot be restored, so if you convert from Real to MP3, the original info is already gone and you are then removing even more of what we would recognise as the original sound.
I converted Honking Duck tracks to .wav files and burned to audio CD and now only need the time to sit and listen to 30-odd hours of music.

Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fiddlin' John Carson's Casey Jones
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 07 Dec 07 - 07:27 AM

Roberto - I see that 12 Stringer has given an answer to your question.

To expand on that, there are two links to play, one links to a real audio file, for this specific song it is named bazc06.rm, this can be downloaded and will play from your computer. The other link is to a file (bbfe82f4bb32a4e79be731d58f02bf24.ram) which doesn't actually contain any music. It links the player to a "streaming audio" which allows your player to play the track, but doesn't download the actual music track to your computer.

If you want to download the actual music file onto a PC the standard method is to Right Click on the link and select "Save As..." (with IE6 it is Save Target As, with Firefox it is Save Link As) and it should bring up a Save/Download box which allows you to select where to save the file and also to rename it if you wish. If you rename, make sure that you only change the file name bit BEFORE the " .rm " suffix otherwise a PC will not recognise what sort of file it is.

If you work your way through Honking Duck and download everything, you will end up with about 30 hours of playing time. If you do not rename files to something meaningful or otherwise catalogue them, you will find it difficult to find any specific song or tune.

Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fiddlin' John Carson's Casey Jones
From: 12-stringer
Date: 07 Dec 07 - 04:24 AM

When the info for the song appears, click on "Listen: Real Audio." (lefthand side of the screen, underneath the title, original issue #, and date). If you're using IE 7, a box will pop up asking whether you want to run or save the file. Click on save and specify a location. You might want to retitle while you're at it, since the file will be named something like 'baze14.rm.'

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fiddlin' John Carson's Casey Jones
From: Stewie
Date: 07 Dec 07 - 02:48 AM

Sorry Roberto, I have no idea how you download from Honking Duck, but I believe it can be done. I am sure many Mudcatters could advise.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fiddlin' John Carson's Casey Jones
From: GUEST,Roberto
Date: 07 Dec 07 - 02:25 AM

No, thanks, I have both the Carson and Jesse James' recordings, but on the site you mentioned there are many other interesting recordings, and I wondered if it was possible to save them and put them on a cd. R

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fiddlin' John Carson's Casey Jones
From: Stewie
Date: 07 Dec 07 - 02:21 AM

Roberto, are you talking about the Carson and the Jesse James? If so, I can put them on a CD for you. PM me with your snail mail address if you want them.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fiddlin' John Carson's Casey Jones
From: Roberto
Date: 07 Dec 07 - 01:52 AM

Thanks a lot, Stewie. Do you know if it is possible to save those recordings on CD? How? R

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fiddlin' John Carson's Casey Jones
From: Stewie
Date: 06 Dec 07 - 09:08 PM

Geoff, Honking Duck must have it wrong. Russell and Meade discographies have no mention of Moonshine Kate on OK 40038 and there is certainly no aural indication of her presence.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fiddlin' John Carson's Casey Jones
From: Stewie
Date: 06 Dec 07 - 09:03 PM

Roberto, here is what I hear differently - mostly minor. The solo recording by Fiddlin' John was recorded on 7 November 1923 in New York City and issued in March 1924 as OK 40038 [info from Meade].


Stanza 1, line 2 'of a brave'

S2, L2 'at the kitchen door'

S5, L1 'looked at his watch and his watch'
S5, L2 'looked at his water and his water'
S5, L2, 'Turned to his fireman, 'Pick your place to jump'
S5, L4 'there's two locomotives are a-bound to bump'

S6, L2 'are a-bound to bump'
S6, L4   'there's two locomotives are a-bound to bump'

S7, L1 omit 'to'

S8, L1 'Well, at the'
S8, L3 'Poor old Casey didn't weaken'

S9, L4 'I guess I'll'

S10, L3 ''fore you'

S11, L4 omit 'you'

I hope the above is of some use to you.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fiddlin' John Carson's Casey Jones
From: GUEST,Geoff the Duck (downstairs)
Date: 06 Dec 07 - 01:50 PM

Just for info - is it the version 1924 Fiddlin' John Carson & Moonshine Kate which can be heard on the Honking Duck web site.
If so, others might follow the link and give opinions of what they hear. p.s. it is in Real Audio format, so you need a set-up which will recognise Real Audio files.
I recommend that you install Real Alternative rather than the official Real Player, which is riddled with intrusive junk you don't want on a PC.

I've just listened to the version on Honking Duck, and what you have typed in your second posting looks pretty close to what they are singing. It is mostly minor differences such as "they's" and "them's" as far as I can see.
At least the singing is fairly understandable, unlike Uncle Dave Macon, who is the subject of serious discussions trying to decipher exactly what he sings.
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fiddlin' John Carson's Casey Jones
From: Roberto
Date: 06 Dec 07 - 12:43 PM

Thank you, Geoff. I'm ready for ... a six years waiting. R

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fiddlin' John Carson's Casey Jones
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 06 Dec 07 - 12:36 PM

It might be because we are a smaller island with a more concentrated folk tradition?
Perhaps it's because we had a larger proportion of "gentleman" academics attempting to catalogue traditions?
Maybe it's because in Britain, field recordings were made for the purpose of transcribing tunes and lyrics with a view to publishing, or comparing to earlier published sources?
Maybe it has something to do with the fact that many recordings of American music were a commercial product, rather than an academic study?

I can't help with your lyric at present, but don't think we are ignoring you.
Sometimes Mudcat comes up with the goods in sewconds, other occasions it takes a bit longer. I once put out a request for a monologue in September 2001. The words finally appeared in July 2007. It took a while, but I now have words plus information about the author.
Best of luck.
Quack!
Geoff the Duck.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fiddlin' John Carson's Casey Jones
From: Roberto
Date: 06 Dec 07 - 11:33 AM

I'm noticing that here at the MUdcat, but it is the same in the whole web, it is much more difficult to find transcriptions of important recordings of American traditional songs and blues, not from revivalists, than it is to find text of recordings of songs from the British tradition.... How is this? R

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fiddlin' John Carson's Casey Jones
From: Roberto
Date: 06 Dec 07 - 11:04 AM

From different sources, this is what I've got up to now: it needs a careful check. Please, someone that has the chance to listen to this 1924 recording... Thanks. R

Come all you rounders if you want to hear
The story I'm a-tellin' on a brave engineer
Casey Jones was the rounder's name
On a six eight wheeler, boys, he won his fame

The caller called Casey at a half past four
Kissed his wife at the station door
Mounted to the cabin with his orders in his hand
Took a farewell trip unto the Promised Land

Casey Jones a-mounted to the cabin
Casey Jones, with his orders in his hand
Casey Jones a-mounted to the cabin
Took a farewell trip unto the Promised Land

Was on a Friday mornin' she's a lookin' like rain
Around the curve come a passenger train
On the pilot lay little Bill Jones
A good old rounder, but he's dead and gone

He looked at the watch and the watch was slow
Looked at the water and the water was low
Turn to his fireman, said: "Prepare to jump
For there's two locomotives that are bound to bump!"

Casey Jones, two locomotives
Casey Jones, that are bound to bump
Casey Jones, two locomotives
There's two locomotives that are bound to bump

You ought to been there and a-seen the sight
People were screamin', both black and white
For I was there, it is a natural fact
Seen two box-cars when they left the track

Well, after the Four Mile Curve
Where Johnny Devine he lost his nerve
Poor Casey he didn't weaken a bit
Had his hands on the throttle when the engine hit

Casey went to Heaven, went straight from here
He told St. Peter he's a brave engineer
St. Peter said, "Well, you're looking mighty bold
I guess we'll have to put you back to shovelling coal"

"Mama, mama, I can see
How Papa got killed on the Santa Fe";
"Go to bed, children, before you cry yourself hoarse
I got you another daddy on the police force

Casey Jones, I got another papa
Casey Jones, on the police force
Casey Jones, I got you another daddy
And I got you another daddy on the police force"

Subject: Lyr Req: Fiddlin' John Carson's Casey Jones
From: Roberto
Date: 05 Dec 07 - 12:41 PM

I'd like to get the lyrics of Fiddlin' John Carson's recording of Casey Jones... Thanks. R