## **Stanza 1:**
> Come all you rounders, I want you to hear
> The story of a brave engineer;
> Casey Jones was the rounder’s name,
> On a big eight-wheeler of a mighty fame.
🔹 **Explanation:**
The speaker invites all workers ("rounders") to listen to the story of a heroic train engineer named **Casey Jones**, who drove a famous and powerful eight-wheeled train engine. This sets the tone of a legendary tale.
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### **Chorus:**
> Casey Jones, he pushed on the throttle,
> Casey Jones was a brave engineer,
> Come on, Casey, and blow the whistle,
> Blow the whistle so they all can hear.
🔹 **Explanation:**
This chorus praises Casey for being brave and determined. He pushed the train to full speed ("pushed on the throttle") and proudly signaled with the whistle. It highlights his dedication and courage.
---
### **Stanza 2:**
> Now Casey said, ‘Before I die
> There’s one more train that I want to try,
> And I will try ere many a day
> The Union Pacific and the Santa Fé.’
🔹 **Explanation:**
Casey expresses his passion for driving trains. Even before his death, he dreams of driving other major rail lines like **Union Pacific** and **Santa Fe**—a symbol of his ambition and commitment.
---
### **Stanza 3:**
> Caller called Casey about half past four,
> He kissed his wife at the station door,
> Climbed in his cab and was on his way,
> ‘I’ve got my chance on the Santa Fé.’
🔹 **Explanation:**
Early in the morning, Casey is called for duty. He affectionately says goodbye to his wife, gets into his engine cab, and looks forward to proving himself on the Santa Fe route. It shows his love for family and work.
---
### **Stanza 4:**
> Down the slope he went on the fly,
> Heard the firemen say, ‘You’ve got a white eye.’
> Well, the switchman knew by the engine’s moan
> That the man at the throttle was Casey Jones.
🔹 **Explanation:**
As he races downhill, the fireman warns Casey (a "white eye" may refer to danger or speed). The switchman recognizes Casey's fast driving just by the sound of the engine, showing his unique style and skill.
---
### **Stanza 5:**
> The rain was a-poundin’ down like lead,
> The railroad track was a riverbed,
> They slowed her down to a thirty-mile gait,
> And the southbound mail was eight hours late.
🔹 **Explanation:**
Heavy rain makes the tracks look like rivers. The train is forced to slow down, and the mail train is already delayed. Despite difficult weather and pressure, Casey keeps going—this shows adversity and his determination.
---
### **Stanza 6:**
> Fireman says, ‘Casey, you’re running too fast,
> You run the blackboard the last station you passed.’
> Casey says, ‘I believe we’ll make it through,
> For the steam’s much better than I ever knew.’
🔹 **Explanation:**
The fireman warns Casey he's going too fast, even missing signs. But Casey remains confident, believing his engine is strong enough to handle the journey. It shows his courage—perhaps even overconfidence.
---
### **Stanza 7:**
> Around the curve comes a passenger train,
> Her headlight was a-shinin’ in his eyes through the rain,
> Casey blew the whistle a mighty blast
> But the locomotive was a-comin’ fast.
🔹 **Explanation:**
Tragically, another train appears suddenly around a curve. Despite Casey’s efforts to warn it with a loud whistle, it's moving too fast to avoid a collision. The danger becomes real and urgent.
---
### **Stanza 8:**
> The locomotives met in the middle of the hill,
> In a head-on tangle that’s bound to kill,
> He tried to do his duty, the yardmen said,
> But Casey Jones was scalded dead.
🔹 **Explanation:**
A fatal head-on collision occurs on the hill. Though Casey tries his best to prevent it, he dies due to burns ("scalded dead"), showing he sacrificed himself while trying to fulfill his responsibility.
---
### **Final Stanza:**
> Headaches and heartaches and all kinds of pain,
> They all ride along with the railroad train.
> Stories of brave men, noble and grand,
> Belong to the life of the railroad man.
🔹 **Explanation:**
The poem ends by generalizing Casey’s story to all railroad workers. Their lives are filled with hardships, pain, and sacrifice. Yet they are remembered as noble and brave—heroes of the railway.
### ✅ **Themes of the Ballad:**
* **Bravery and Duty**
* **Sacrifice**
* **Tragedy and Heroism**
* **Industrialization and Risk**
* **Human cost of progress**
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