Caption: PRX default Piece image
PRX default Piece image 

Casey Jones

From: Western Folklife Center Media
Length: 00:09:50

Hal Cannon of the Western Folklife Center tells the story of Casey Jones, an engineer who became a folk song legend. Read the full description.
${title}
To hear the full audio, sign up for a free PRX account or log in.

More from Western Folklife Center Media

Caption: A flyer for Spy Hop's "Open Mic" program

Spy Hop: Making Music, Changing Lives (00:08:42)
From: Western Folklife Center Media

In Salt Lake City, an organization called Spy Hop is harnessing the power of music to help "at risk" youth turn their lives around. The Western Folklife Center's Taki ...
Caption: PRX default Piece image

Silver Bells (00:04:38)
From: Western Folklife Center Media

Composer Ray Evans penned the Christmas classic, "Silver Bells." He discusses how "Silver Bells" came to be in What's in a Song.
Caption: PRX default Piece image

It Takes A Whole Village (00:03:56)
From: Western Folklife Center Media

The African Children's Choir sings, "It Takes A Whole Village." Chimera Victor discusses the song and the group on What's in a Song.
Caption: PRX default Piece image

Who's Gonna Build Your Wall (00:03:30)
From: Western Folklife Center Media

Tom Russell discusses his song, "Who's Gonna Build Your Wall" a song about immigration on What's in a Song.
Caption: PRX default Piece image

Wildfire (00:04:42)
From: Western Folklife Center Media

Michael Martin Murphy discusses the inspiration for his song, "Wildfire" on What's in a Song.
Caption: PRX default Piece image

Twilight (00:04:24)
From: Western Folklife Center Media

Mary Chapin Carpenter discusses her song "Twilight" on What's in a Song.
Caption: PRX default Piece image

Mariachi (00:03:09)
From: Western Folklife Center Media

High School students explain the importance of mariachi music in this edition of What's in a Song.
Caption: PRX default Piece image

Harvest Time (00:03:17)
From: Western Folklife Center Media

Stephanie Davis talks about her song, "Harvest Time" on What's in a Song.
Piece image

Debt (00:03:00)
From: Western Folklife Center Media

Brenn Hill talks about his song, "Debt" on What's in a Song.
Caption: PRX default Piece image

Ruby (00:03:41)
From: Western Folklife Center Media

Bluegrass singer Amber Collins discusses the old classic, "Ruby."

Piece Description

In April of 1900 a passenger train colided with a freight train near the little town of Vaugn, Mississippi. Miraculously none of the passengers was hurt, but the train's engineer, John Luther Jones, was killed instantly. You may not think you know engineer Jones, but most Americans certainly recognize him by his nickname. Hal Cannon of the Western Folklife Center went looking for the history of Casey Jones, trying to learn why he became a folk song legend. Originally broadcast on NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday, April 30, 2000.

3 Comments Atom Feed

User image

Review of Casey Jones

This is a fun exploration of the roots of a song. I feel that in this age of disposable entertainment, it's really nice to hear something that reflects upon the stories that built up modern culture. Casey Jones is one of those.

The piece is carried along nicely by music and storytelling. I've got to say that anything that features Mississippi John Hurt is always worth listening to, and this has Hurt. The story didn't always hold my attention, but as a light piece, it's nicely made and it brings some truth to the mythology.

One note for producers: the end says "For NPR News..." so that should be struck before broadcast.

Caption: PRX default User image

Review of Casey Jones

I enjoyed this piece so much more than I expected to. I grew up hearing songs about Casey Jones in the classroom, on cartoons, and on the radio. But to hear this well thought out story about Casey's life and legend was just incredible. I appreciate the wealth of information presented in this piece, and I was especially moved by one of Hal's last remarks. I certainly cannot imagine Michael Jordan or Oprah living forever in a folk song...

User image

Review of Casey Jones

This is a superbly produced feature about the history of the legendary African-American train engineer John Luther Jones, also known as Casey Jones. It is a delightful mélange of historic recordings, interviews, music, sound effects and narration that is beautifully mixed. This piece documents the spectacular train accident in which Casey’s passenger train collides with a freight train, and the resultant legend that was created and preserved in song. The old recordings are cleaned up beautifully, and the mix is as good as it gets. The feature will resonate with train buffs, history aficionados and lovers of folk music, as well as anyone who enjoys an excellent example of radio at its finest.

Broadcast History

Originally broadcast on NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday, April 30, 2000.

Transcript

Transcript

Hal Cannon
0:00:00
In the 1930s if you grew up on big band and swing, you might remember Wingy Manon and his orchestra.

Sounds
0:00:07
song Casey Jones plays

Hal Cannon
0:00:13
In the early 1960s country music star Johnny Cash sang Casey's story this way.

Sounds
0:00:16
Johnny Cash version of Casey Jones

Hal Cannon
0:00:24
And by the 1970s rock and roll's Grateful Dead packaged this powdered version.

Sounds
0:00:29
Grateful Dead version of Casey Jones

Hal Cannon
0:00:39
Since it's first wax release 90 years ago, there have been scores of recordings from blues to bluegrass to burlesque, but most people are surprised to learn Casey Jones was a real man, an engineer who really died with his locomotive. Of all the Casey Jones recordings, this is the rarest.

Sim Webb
0:00:58
I, Simeon Webb, was his fireman and I will tell you about our last...
Read the full transcript

Musical Works

Mississippi John Hurt: "Casey Jones"

Related Website

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1073543