Lyrics: Robert Hunter
Music: Jerry Garcia
This is the Hunter/Garcia original, not to be confused with the traditional song Casey Jones, which the Dead also played, as did Jerry with some of his other bands.
The latter is normally called "The Ballad Of Casey Jones" in setlists.
ChorusNotes
Driving that train, high on cocaine
Casey Jones you'd better watch your speed
Trouble ahead, trouble behind
And you know that notion just crossed my mind (note 1)
This old engine makes it on time
Leaves Central Station 'bout a quarter to nine
Hits River Junction at seventeen to
At a quarter to ten you know it's travelling again
[chorus]
Trouble ahead, the lady in red
Take my advice you'd be better off dead
Switchman's sleeping, train Hundred and Two
Is on the wrong track and headed for you
[chorus]
Trouble with you is the trouble with me
Got two good eyes but we still don't see
Come round the bend, you know it's the end
The fireman screams and the engine just gleams
[chorus - repeated]
| Grateful Dead Recordings | |||||
| Date | Album | ||||
| 8 Nov 1969 | Dick's Pick's Vol 16 | ||||
| Studio 1970 | Workingman's Dead (note 2) | ||||
| 14 Feb 1970 | Dick's Pick's Vol 4 | ||||
| 2 May 1970 | Dick's Picks Vol 8 | ||||
| 19 Feb 1971 | Three From The Vault | ||||
| 27 Apr 1971 | Ladies And Gentlemen ... The Grateful Dead | ||||
| 2 Jul 1971 | Fillmore: The Last Days | ||||
| 7 Aug 1971 | Dick's Picks Vol 35 | ||||
| 28 Mar 1972 | Dick's Picks Vol 30 | ||||
| 24 Apr 1972 | Rockin' The Rhein | ||||
| 21 Jul 1972 | Download Series Vol 10 | ||||
| 17 Sep 1972 | Dick's Picks Vol 23 | ||||
| 27 Sep 1972 | Dick's Picks Vol 11 | ||||
| 10 Nov 1973 | Winterland 1973 - The Complete Recordings | ||||
| 4 Dec 1973 | Winterland 1973 - The Complete Recordings (bonus disc) | ||||
| 10 Dec 1973 | Download Series Vol 8 | ||||
| 4 Aug 1974 | Dick's Picks Vol 31 | ||||
| 17 Oct 1974 | Steal Your Face (note 3) | ||||
| 11 Nov 1978 | Saturday Night Live Vol 1 | ||||
| 31 Dec 1978 | The Closing Of The Winterland (DVD & CD) | ||||
| 5 Nov 1979 | Road Trips Full Show: Spectrum 11/5/79 | ||||
| 16 Dec 1992 | Dick's Picks Vol 27 | ||||
Recordings from dead.net Tapers Section
"The Dead" Concert Recordings
Ratdoglive CDs and downloads
Phil Lesh and Friends Digital Download Series
| Other Recordings | |||||
| Date | Recorded By | Album | |||
| 1973 | King's Road | Watkin's Glen | |||
| 1991 | Warren Zevon | Deadicated | |||
| 1996 | Billy & Terry Smith | Long Live The Dead | |||
| 1996 | Wailing Souls | Fire On The Mountain: Reggae Celebrates The Grateful Dead | |||
| 1997 | David West et al | Pickin' On The Dead ... A Tribute | |||
| 1999 | Steve Marsh et al | Swingin' To The Grateful Dead | |||
| 2000 | McEuen & Salazar | Tie-Die Yippie Ki Yay | |||
| 2000 | Vassar Clements | Dead Grass | |||
| 2001 | Various (Michael Hill) | Blues Tribute To The Grateful Dead | |||
| 2003 | Grateful Guitar | David Cullen | |||
| 8 Feb 2006 | Live At The Fillmore | Grateful Grass | |||