I'm Free from the Chain Gang Now
Johnny Cash feat. Benmont Tench & Mike Campbell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There were tears on the mail mother sent me in jail
But I'm free from the chain gang now
Back home I was known and respected then one day I was wrongly suspected
So they put me in chains in a cold freezin' rain but I'm free from the chain gang now
All the years I was known by a number how I kept my mind is a wonder
And the bare prison cell that was one step from hell
I prayed that the gossip will spare me when I return to the one I will marry
Like a bird in a tree I got my liberty and I'm free from the chain gang now
Johnny Cash’s “I’m Free from the Chain Gang Now” is a song about a person who was wrongly accused and imprisoned. It tells the story of how he had to endure the harsh conditions of a prison, being surrounded by guards and losing touch with his family. The first verse speaks about how he was able to get rid of the shackles that bound him and the guards that were always around him. He also mentions how his mother sent him tears, expressing her sorrow for his imprisonment. However, he is now free from the chain gang.
The second verse of the song tells us how the singer was once respected by people back home but was wrongly suspected of a crime. He was then put in chains in the freezing rain. The conditions of the prison were harsh and all the singer was known by was a number. However, he managed to keep his mind together, even though he was only one step away from hell. In the end, he was able to obtain his freedom.
Line by Line Meaning
I got rid of the shackles that bound me and the guards that were always around me
I have finally escaped from the bondage of both chains and the ever-present watchful eyes of my captors.
There were tears on the mail mother sent me in jail
My mother's letters often arrived wet with the tears she shed for me while I was in prison.
But I'm free from the chain gang now
Despite the hardships and pain I endured while imprisoned, I can now rejoice that I am finally free from it all.
Back home I was known and respected then one day I was wrongly suspected
Before my imprisonment, I had a good reputation in my community, but my life took a wrong turn when I was falsely accused of a crime.
So they put me in chains in a cold freezin' rain but I'm free from the chain gang now
I was subjected to inhumane conditions in prison, including being chained up in harsh weather, but that is all behind me now that I am free.
All the years I was known by a number how I kept my mind is a wonder
During my imprisonment, I was reduced to being known only by a number rather than my name, and it is a miracle that I was able to maintain my sanity through it all.
And the bare prison cell that was one step from hell
The prison cell I was confined to was minimal and lifeless, feeling as though it was right on the edge of Hell itself.
But I'm free from the chain gang now
Despite all of the difficulties I faced, I was able to break free and leave my chains behind.
I prayed that the gossip will spare me when I return to the one I will marry
As I look forward to life outside of prison, I only hope that the rumors and talk about me haven't ruined my chances at love and marriage.
Like a bird in a tree I got my liberty and I'm free from the chain gang now
Finally, I am like a bird that has been freed from a cage and now has its liberty, no longer trapped in the prison that once held me captive.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: LOUIS HERSCHER, SAUL KLEIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind