Casey Jones (The Union Scab) [IWW Version]

"That is right. That was written, uh, in, uh 1911. The time of the big [?] strike. The, uh, the shopcrafts, the machinists, bottlemakers and so forth, all these shopmen went out on strike and of course, the way they were lined up at that time, the, uh, trainmen, engineers and firemen, they stayed on the job, so Joe Hill, I think he wrote this when he was right here in San Pedro

Now, the shopmen on the S.P. line for strike sent out a call
But Casey Jones the engineer, he wouldn’t strike at all
The boiler, it was leaking, and the drivers on the bum
And the bearings and the engines, they were all out of plum

But Casey Jones, kept his junkpile running
Casey Jones, was working double-time
Casey Jones, got a wooden medal
For being good and faithful on the S.P. line

Now, the shopmen got together and they said it wasn't fair
For Casey Jones to go around a-scabbin' everywhere
And someone puts a bunch of railroad ties across the track
And Casey hit the river with an awful crack

Casey Jones, hit the river bottom
Casey Jones, broke his blooming spine
Casey Jones, became an Angeleno
He took a trip to Heaven on the S.P. line

Now, when Casey Jones got up to Heaven, to the pearly gates
He said, “I’m Casey Jones, the guy that pulled the S.P. freights”
“You’re just the man,” said Peter, “Our musicians went on strike"
"You can get a job a-scabbing any time you like”

Casey Jones, went up to Heaven
Casey Jones, was doing mighty fine
Casey Jones, went scabbing on the angels
Just like he did the shopmen on the S.P. line

Now, the angels got together, they said it wasn’t fair
For Casey Jones to go around a-scabbing everywhere
The angels union number twenty-three, they sure were there
For they promptly fired Casey down the Golden Stairs

Casey Jones, went to Hell a-flying
Casey Jones, the Devil said “Oh fine"
Casey Jones, got busy shoveling sulphur
That's what he got for scabbing on the S.P. line