Folsom Prison Blues
Jamie Lono 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 Antone
When I was just a baby my mama told me. Son,
Always be a good boy, don't ever play with guns.
When I hear that whistle blowing, I hang my head and cry..
Sooey!
I bet there's rich folks eating from a fancy dining car
They're probably drinkin' coffee and smoking big cigars.
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 freed me from this prison,
If that railroad train was mine
I bet I'd move it on a little farther 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
The song “Folsom Prison Blues” by Jamie Lono is a classic tale of regret and longing for freedom. The song chronicles the life of a prisoner who is stuck in Folsom prison for an unknown reason. The song's protagonist has not seen the sunshine for a long time and is haunted by the sound of the train that passes by. The train that rolls around the bend is a symbol of freedom and hope for the singer, yet he is left behind in the confines of the prison.
The song's story takes us back to the singer's early life when his mother advised him to avoid playing with guns. However, the man's past caught up with him, and he ended up in Folsom Prison for shooting a man in Reno. The sound of the train whistle makes him realize the gravity of his actions, and he is left to cry in anguish.
The song also depicts the perceived lifestyle of the rich as the singer imagines them enjoying luxurious meals on the train. The thought torments him, knowing he can never have that life. The song concludes with the singer expressing his desire to be freed from the prison and move on with his life, but he knows that may never come to fruition.
Line by Line Meaning
I hear the train a comin'
I am hearing the sound of a train coming
It's rolling round the bend
The train is moving in a circular motion
And I ain't seen the sunshine since I don't know when
I am in Folsom prison for so long that I can't remember when I last saw the sunlight
I'm stuck in Folsom prison, and time keeps draggin' on
I am trapped in Folsom prison and time seems to be moving very slow
But that train keeps a rollin' on down to San Antone
The train continues to move towards San Antone without any sign of stopping.
When I was just a baby my mama told me. Son, Always be a good boy, don't ever play with guns.
When I was young, my mother advised me to never play with weapons.
But I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die
However, I am now in prison because I murdered a man in Reno for amusement.
When I hear that whistle blowing, I hang my head and cry..
Every time I hear the whistle of a train, I think about my crime and cry.
Sooey!
Emotional expression with no clear meaning.
I bet there's rich folks eating from a fancy dining car
I imagine that wealthy individuals are dining in a luxurious dining car.
They're probably drinkin' coffee and smoking big cigars.
They are most likely enjoying coffee and smoking cigars.
Well I know I had it coming, I know I can't be free
I am aware that I must endure the consequences of my actions and that I cannot be freed.
But those people keep a movin'
However, those people on the train continue to move and live their lives.
And that's what tortures me
Their freedom heavily contrasts with my confinement, which disturbs me mentally.
Well if they freed me from this prison,
If someone were to set me free from prison,
If that railroad train was mine
And if the train belonged to me,
I bet I'd move it on a little farther down the line
I expect to move the train along the way to leave Folsom prison behind.
Far from Folsom prison, that's where I want to stay
Running away from Folsom prison is what I aim for. There, very far from Folsom prison, is where I desire to stay.
And I'd let that lonesome whistle blow my blues away
If I succeeded to escape to a peaceful place, I'd let the train's whistle remove any sorrow and blues I've been experiencing until now.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Johnny R. Cash
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind