Folsom Prison Blues
Johnny Cash;Willie Nelson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's rollin' '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"
But I shot a man in Reno
Just to watch him die
When I hear that whistle blowin'
I hang my head and cry
I bet there's rich folks eatin'
In a fancy dinin' car
They're probably drinkin' coffee
And smokin' big cigars
Well, I know I had it comin'
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
In Folsom Prison Blues, Johnny Cash paints a melancholic picture of his days locked up, singing about the train that runs through the prison yard, the pain of being deprived of sunshine for an indefinite amount of time, and the remorse over shooting a man in Reno. The train is a symbol of the fleeting nature of life and the outside world that he yearns to be a part of. Cash expresses his frustration and envy directed at wealthy people, who are free to move on and enjoy their lives while he is stuck behind bars.
The song is fundamentally a lament about regret and the consequences of one's actions. Cash sings about his mother's words, advising him to stay away from guns and instead be a "good boy." We see the contrast between his childhood innocence and the dire situation that he finds himself in. The song deals with several themes akin to human behavior, choices, and the possibility of hope, which makes it relevant and relatable even today.
Fact 1. Folsom Prison Blues was first recorded by Johnny Cash in 1955 while serving in the United States Air Force in Germany.
Fact 2. The song was released as a single in 1956 and became a hit, reaching the top 5 on the country music charts.
Fact 3. Cash's historic performance at the Folsom Prison was recorded and released as a live album, which included a live version of the song.
Fact 4. The song was later included on Cash's album At Folsom Prison, which was a critical and commercial success, cementing his reputation as a country music icon.
Fact 5. The lyrics to the song were partially inspired by a true story of a man who killed his wife in El Paso and was later apprehended in Juarez, Mexico.
Fact 6. Folsom Prison Blues has been covered by several artists, including Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, and Waylon Jennings.
Fact 7. Cash performed the song on several occasions, including on the Grand Ole Opry and the Johnny Cash Show in 1969.
Fact 8. Folsom Prison Blues was listed as one of the 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Fact 9. The song's success was followed by a sequel of sorts, which Cash wrote with a similar theme. The song called "San Quentin" was also recorded live at the San Quentin prison in 1969.
Fact 10. The chords for Folsom Prison Blues in the key of E are E, B7, A7, E, B7, E.
Chords:
Verse:
E B7
E A7
E B7 E
Chorus:
A B7 E
Line by Line Meaning
I hear the train a comin'
I hear the sound of approaching train
It's rollin' 'round the bend
The train is traveling around the bend in the tracks
And I ain't seen the sunshine
I haven't seen the sunlight
Since, I don't know when
I don't know how long it has been
I'm stuck in Folsom Prison
I am confined in Folsom Prison
And time keeps draggin' on
Time is passing slowly
But that train keeps a-rollin'
But the train keeps moving
On down to San Antone
Towards San Antonio
When I was just a baby
When I was very young
My Mama told me, 'son
My Mother advised me, 'child
Always be a good boy
To always be good and obedient
Don't ever play with guns'
And never play with guns
But I shot a man in Reno
But I killed a man in Reno
Just to watch him die
Just for the sake of seeing him die
When I hear that whistle blowin'
When I hear the sound of the whistle
I hang my head and cry
I feel sad and cry
I bet there's rich folks eatin'
I bet there are wealthy individuals dining
In a fancy dinin' car
In an ornate dining car
They're probably drinkin' coffee
They are possibly drinking coffee
And smokin' big cigars
And smoking large cigars
Well, I know I had it comin'
I know I deserved what happened to me
I know I can't be free
I know I cannot be released from prison
But those people keep a-movin'
But those individuals keep moving
And that's what tortures me
And that is what causes me pain
Well, if they freed me from this prison
If I were to be released from this prison
If that railroad train was mine
If that railroad train were mine
I bet I'd move it on a little
I would move it a little
Farther down the line
Further down the railroad tracks
Far from Folsom Prison
Far away from Folsom Prison
That's where I want to stay
That is where I aspire to remain
And I'd let that lonesome whistle
And I would allow that mournful whistle
Blow my blues away
To blow away my sorrows
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: John R. Cash
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
REGGIEPS4GAMER
Imagine being as cool as Johnny cash. What a legend. A legend that will live forever
Landon Welch
@REGGIEPS4GAMER Thats Fair haha, I'm a willy guy myself but I get ya.
REGGIEPS4GAMER
@Landon Welch never said they wasnât cool, itâs just Johnny cash is more cooler đ
Landon Welch
He's standing next to Willie Nelson! A whole group of people as cool as cash!
Joe Roth
@Shane McLaughlin Elvis is really cool, but I feel like the amount of drugs he did knocked him down a bit
Paul McDonagh
We can imagine it, but we'll never be it :D He was THE MAN
1rldsHealthiestMan
I love that Kris is just as much as a fan as everyone in the audience. The dude knows the lyrics and jumps on the mic with everyone else!
Robert Andrews
awesome
devius outdoor adventures
he wrote half the songs, lol kris has been with m since the very begining. shit him and johhny and waylon been friends since the 60s drug days before johnny quit and kris best friend janis died.
till stark
Reggie Young so cool