I Got Stripes
Johnny Cash [feat. George Jones] Lyrics
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I was arrested (uh huh)
On a Tuesday,
They locked me in the jail (oh boy)
On a Wednesday,
My trial was attested
On a Thursday,
They said guilty andThe Judge's gavel fell
I got stripes,
Stripes around my shoulders
I got chains,
Chains around my feet
I got stripes,
Stripes around my shoulders
And them chains, them chains,
They're about to drag me down
On a Monday,
My momma come to see me
On a Tuesday,
They caught me with a file
On a Wednesday,
I'm down in solitary
On a Thursday,
I start on bread and water for a while
I got stripes,
Stripes around my shoulders
I got chains,
Chains around my feet
I got stripes,
Stripes around my shouldersAnd them chains, them chains,
They're about to drag me down
I got stripes,
Stripes around my shoulders
I got chains,
Chains around my feet
I got stripes,
Stripes around my shoulders
And them chains, them chains,
They're about to drag me down
The song "Got Stripes" by Johnny Cash tells the story of a man who has been arrested and convicted of a crime. The lyrics suggest that he has been sentenced to serve time in jail, with chains around his feet and stripes around his shoulders. The song is a testament to the consequences of criminal behavior and the emotional toll that imprisonment can have on an individual.
The repetition of the chorus, "I got stripes, stripes around my shoulders, I got chains, chains around my feet," emphasizes the singer's sense of confinement and imprisonment. The imagery of chains and stripes serve as symbols of his guilt and punishment, a physical manifestation of his past actions that will follow him throughout his life. The reference to "bread and water" and "solitary confinement" further accentuate the isolation and deprivation that he is experiencing.
Johnny Cash was known for his ability to communicate the hardships faced by people on the fringes of society. The song "Got Stripes" is no exception, portraying the struggle of those who have been caught up in a life of crime and the hopelessness that can come from feeling trapped and confined.
Line by Line Meaning
On a Monday, I was arrested (uh huh)
I was taken into custody by law enforcement on a Monday.
On a Tuesday, They locked me in the jail (oh boy)
I was placed in jail on a Tuesday.
On a Wednesday, My trial was attested
My trial was verified or approved by the court on a Wednesday.
On a Thursday, They said guilty and The Judge's gavel fell
I was found guilty in court and the judge struck the gavel to indicate the official decision on a Thursday.
I got stripes, Stripes around my shoulders
I have earned a prison uniform with stripes on the shoulders, indicating that I am a prisoner.
I got chains, Chains around my feet
I am shackled with chains around my feet, restricting my movement.
And them chains, them chains, They're about to drag me down
My chains are causing me to feel weighed down, both physically and mentally.
On a Monday, My momma come to see me
My mother came to visit me in prison on a Monday.
On a Tuesday, They caught me with a file
I was caught with a file on a Tuesday, presumably attempting to escape or do some other illicit activity.
On a Wednesday, I'm down in solitary
I have been put in solitary confinement on a Wednesday, isolated from other prisoners for disciplinary or safety reasons.
On a Thursday, I start on bread and water for a while
As punishment, I am only given bread and water to eat on a Thursday.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHARLIE WILLIAMS, JOHNNY CASH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@anmcclo9731
I, got
love, for
making, the
same old
same my
always, best
love, in
knowing, no
difference see
those dancing,
angel wings,
singing, on
a God
Bless, best
Tuesday; and
I, swear
by loving,
me another
lord, best
of stories,
it all
just begun
@conchofish
I met Cash in El Paso, TX about 1968. He was a gentleman.
@nickwillhite7802
Lucky
@nickwillhite7802
Wish I could of got the chance or to see him in concert
@budbundy4014
That’s cool. He was probably coming back from Juarez to buy his pills. Good dude though.
@dallascowboysclub7115
Was he coming back from Juarez lol 😂
@conchofish
Actually he was on his way to Juarez. We shared a cab.
@oldthocker47
Johnny Cash has gotten me through so many damn long and boring working days that I lost count a decade ago.
@SteveK-55
I was very fortunate to see Johnny Cash in concert with the Highway Men . It was one of the Best concerts I've been to ! Johnny Rocks !!
@Onthemove6801
You were fortunate. They were the 'fab four'. I often watch them on youtube
@wboyle9721
Johnny cash a legend much respected in the uk