In 2014, Dean successfully auditioned for the The X-Factor Australia. Out of all the contestants on the show, he had the highest number of singles on the iTunes charts including a no.1 with his performance of George Ezra's Budapest. Although ultimately coming second place to Marlisa, Dean was quickly offered a contract with Sony Music and released his debut single Coming Back on October 24, 2014.
Dean cites Airbourne, The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, First Aid Kit, Joss Stone, Son House and Stevie Ray Vaughan as his musical influences.
Folsom Prison Blues / That's All Right Mama
Dean Ray Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's rolling round the bend
And I ain't seen the sunshine since
I don't know when
I'm stuck in folsom prison
And time keeps draggin' on
But that train keeps a rollin
On down to san anton
When I was just a baby
My mama told me, "son always be a good boy
Don't ever play with guns"
But I shot a man in reno
Just to watch him die
When I hear that whistle blowing
I hang my head and cry
I bet there's rich folks eating
In a fancy dining car
They're probally drinkin' coffee
And smoking big cigarrs
Well I know I had it coming
I know I can't be free
But those people keep a movin'
And that's what tortures me
Well if they'd free me from this prison
If that railroad train was mine
I bet I'd move on just a
Little further down the line
Far from folsom prison
That's where I want to stay
And I'd let that lonesome whistle
Blow my blues away
That's alright with mama
That's alright for you
That's alright with mama yeah anyway you do
But that's alright that's alright
That's alright now mama anyway you do
Well mama, she don't told me
And papa don't told me too
"Son that girl you're fooling with
She ain't no good for you"
But that's alright that's alright
Well that's alright now mama anyway you do
That's alright, that's alright
That's alright now mama anyway you do
Haha! Yeah!
The song "Folsom Prison Blues/That's All Right Mama" by Dean Ray is a stirring ballad that tells the story of a man who is trapped in Folsom Prison, unable to escape the guilt of a murder he committed. The lyrics open with the sound of a train approaching, a symbol of hope, yet the man languishes in his cell with no sign of relief. The repetition of the train symbolizes the passage of time, and as the train travels on to San Antonio, the man yearns for freedom.
The second verse reveals the reason for the singer's imprisonment: he shot a man in Reno just to watch him die. The lyrics subtly explore the complexity of human motives, revealing the deep feelings of regret and shame that accompany a senseless act of violence. The song's chorus reflects the man's anguished sense of displacement: he knows that he deserves to be locked up for his crime, yet he longs desperately for freedom.
The final verse provides an eerie contrast to the earlier lyrics, as the man imagines "rich folks" eating fancy meals and smoking cigars in a luxurious dining car. The juxtaposition of these two worlds emphasizes the man's sense of isolation and despair. Despite his bleak circumstances, the song ends on a note of resignation, as the man concludes that he will never be able to escape his fate.
Line by Line Meaning
I hear the train a comin'
I can hear the train approaching
It's rolling round the bend
The train is curving and getting closer to the prison
And I ain't seen the sunshine since I don't know when
I haven't been outside or seen the sun in a long time
I'm stuck in folsom prison
I'm incarcerated in Folsom State Prison
And time keeps draggin' on
Time moves slowly in prison
But that train keeps a rollin'
The train keeps moving and making noise
On down to san anton
The train is headed to San Antonio, Texas
When I was just a baby
When I was very young
My mama told me, "son always be a good boy
My mother advised me to be well-behaved
Don't ever play with guns"
To avoid playing with firearms
But I shot a man in reno
I committed murder in Reno, Nevada
Just to watch him die
I killed him for the sake of seeing him die
When I hear that whistle blowing
When I hear the sound of the train whistle
I hang my head and cry
I feel remorseful and sad
I bet there's rich folks eating
I presume wealthy people are dining
In a fancy dining car
On a luxurious railway carriage
They're probally drinkin' coffee
They're likely enjoying coffee
And smoking big cigarrs
And smoking large cigars
Well I know I had it coming
I acknowledge I deserved to be in prison
I know I can't be free
I know I can't escape from prison
But those people keep a movin'
But those individuals keep moving forward
And that's what tortures me
And that's what causes me anguish
Well if they'd free me from this prison
If they were to release me from prison
If that railroad train was mine
If I owned that train
I bet I'd move on just a
I believe I would depart
Little further down the line
Further away from the prison
Far from folsom prison
A great distance from Folsom Prison
That's where I want to stay
That's where I wish to reside
And I'd let that lonesome whistle
And I would allow that sorrowful whistle
Blow my blues away
To alleviate my melancholy feelings
That's alright with mama
My mother is okay with it
That's alright for you
It's okay for you
That's alright with mama yeah anyway you do
It's okay with my mother, no matter what you do
Well mama, she don't told me
Well, my mother didn't tell me
And papa don't told me too
And my father didn't tell me either
"Son that girl you're fooling with
They warned me about the girl I was with
She ain't no good for you"
They said she wasn't a suitable partner for me
But that's alright that's alright
But it's okay, regardless
Well that's alright now mama anyway you do
It's okay with my mother, no matter what I do
That's alright, that's alright
It's all good, it's all good
That's alright now mama anyway you do
It's okay with my mother, no matter what I do
Haha! Yeah!
Implies laughter or joy
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sussi Öhlund
Love it!
Garry Wilding
i Love Dean, he knows how to work a gig ,plus he is an excellent musician, Have both his albums,
Really great artist,
Hope to see you in WA sometime
Garry
Roberta Yamak
Me Too Love Him
Roberta Yamak
Would Love To See Him !!!
Christine Duval
Nice!!!
Cameron Carter
Come back to NZ Dean.. :-)
Hayley Schembo
He is my brother o my god
Queensue jesuseschild
He can't sing Johnny Cash songs. He did them his way but it was a disgrace to the singer of the songs and the writer of them too. I didn't like this at all I'm a Johnny Cash fan for years and this guy needs to stay away from his songs. His voice don't fit the deep notes of Johnny Cash and he didn't have the right tune to the songs not good at all.
SNDreamer
He wasn't trying to do Johnny Cash the Johnny Cash way .. He does things his own way , if you don't like it move on , its that easy
Albert Lambert
Johnny cash is Johnny cash...he never tried to be one ...so he sings Johnny cash dean ray style...just be happy Johnny cash is still loved n known by newer generations because artist like him covers them...why even think if one sings an artist song it has to be that artist way of singing...grow up...