In the traditional blues song “She Caught the Katie”, what is the Katie? I’d guess it was a train of some sort except the next line is “left me and you to ride”. Ride what, if she already caught the train?
Some versions of that song have the next line as “left me a mule to ride.”
The Katy is the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad. Here is a web site dedicated to them.
Keith
Not, “Katie,” Katy – the KT, or Kansan and Texas Railroad
That makes more sense. Thanks to all who’ve replied, that was quick.
She caught the Katy, and left me a mule to ride (2X)
My baby caught the Katy, left me a mule to ride
The train pulled out, I swung on behind.
Crazy 'bout that hard-headed woman of mine.
Does that help any?
Whaddya’ want for nothing? Rrrrrrrrubber-Biscuit?
The Blues Brothers did a great updated remake of “She Caught the Katy” back when Belushi was alive. To echo the resounding unanimity of the above posters, it’s a train. The KT.
Now, why did Minnie the Moocher like to kick the gong around?
To “kick the gong around” is to smoke opium; I will leave it to your imagination as to why Minnie liked it.
She got the meanest face in town. Plus, she shot a man in Memphis.
RR
Why?
(I should get some sort of acknowledgement for handing you such a straight line!!)
And I thought it was Reno. 
Well just to watch him die…duh (You’re welcome). [sub] Reno was from “Folsom Prison Blues” by Johnny Cash [/sub]
Thanks for picking up my slack, Odieman.
Actually, Reno was the place that the protagonist of Folsom Prison Blues shot the man. The “Memphis” reference was to the infamous “Do You Have the Right to Sing the Blues?” bit. You can see one version of it here.
From the link:
*Do you have the right to sing the Blues?
Yes, if:
a. you’re older than dirt
b. you’re blind
c. you shot a man in Memphis
d. you can’t be satisfied*
This version even mentions, "Note that if you shot a man in Reno, you can only sing country. Even if you DID only shoot him to watch him die. This is the only one I’ve seen with that disclaimer.
Other gems:
Walkin’ plays a major part in the blues lifestyle. So does fixin’ to die.
Teenagers can’t sing the Blues. They ain’t fixin’ to die yet. Adults sing the Blues. In Blues, “adulthood” means being old enough to get the electric chair if you shoot a man in Memphis.
RR
Well, far be it for me to tell tales out of school, but I’ve been led to understand that she was a low-down hoochie-coocha.
–Cliffy