Maria Luiza de Arruda Botelho Pereira de Magalhães (São Paulo, August 29, 1… Read Full Bio ↴Maria Luiza de Arruda Botelho Pereira de Magalhães (São Paulo, August 29, 1992) is a Brazilian singer, songwriter and musician. Mallu first came to notice through her MySpace page and became known for both her own songs and those of renowned artists. She found herself gracing the covers of major newspapers such as Folha de S. Paulo, O Estado de S. Paulo and Jornal do Brasil, and was featured in Rolling Stone, Istoé, Época among others. In just two years of her career, she became the subject of countless blogs, packed shows, attracted critical attention, and had more than 4 million hits on her MySpace page. In 2008 she released her first eponymous album and in 2009 she released her second album, also self-titled.

Unknown until 2007, Mallu has quickly managed to cause a major commotion in the Brazilian music scene. She has recorded a version of Johnny Cash’s Folsom Prison Blues.

Folsom Prison Blues
Mallu Magalhães Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I hear that train a-rolling, it's a-rolling round the bend
I ain't seen the sunshine since I don't know when
I'm stucked in Folsom Prison and time keeps dragging on
And I hear that whistle blowing all down to San Antone

When I was just a baby my mamma 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 train a-pulling I hang my head and cry

I bet there's rich folks in their fancy shining cars
They're probably drinking coffee and smoking big cigars
But I know I had it coming, I know I can't be free
But I keep on keep a-moving, well that's what tortures me

If they'd free me from this prison, if that railroad train was mine
You bet I moved it on a little further down the line

Far from Folsom Prison that's where I long to stay
And I'd let that lonesome whistle blow my blues away

Overall Meaning

In Mallu Magalhães's version of Folsom Prison Blues, she interprets the classic Johnny Cash song with a soft, almost haunting rendition. The lyrics in the first verse create a vivid picture of a man stuck in the Folsom Prison with no hope of escaping. The train sound serves as a reminder of freedom that he can’t experience while confined within the prison walls. Mallu’s voice and the acoustic guitar give the song a melancholic feel, conveying the desperation of the man’s situation. In the second verse, the lyrics reveal the reason for the man being in prison. He had killed a man in Reno and is now suffering the consequences of his actions. This verse gives an insight into the man's character; he had been warned to be good but had ended up committing a terrible crime. The third verse deals with the man's acceptance of his reality. He realizes his mistake and doesn't expect to be freed from prison. He just keeps moving forward, hoping to reach his destination someday. The song ends on a poignant note, with the man wishing to be far from Folsom Prison and the lonesome whistle to blow his blues away.

Line by Line Meaning

I hear that train a-rolling, it's a-rolling round the bend
The sound of the train approaching the prison reminds the singer of his captivity and the seemingly endless days that he has spent in jail.

I ain't seen the sunshine since I don't know when
The singer has been locked up for so long that he cannot remember the last time he experienced true freedom or joy outside of the prison walls.

I'm stucked in Folsom Prison and time keeps dragging on
The singer is trapped in Folsom Prison and feels like time moves at a painfully slow pace while he is there.

And I hear that whistle blowing all down to San Antone
The sound of the train whistle haunts the singer and represents the freedom that he cannot have while he is locked up in the prison.

When I was just a baby my mamma told me: son
The singer recalls his childhood and the advice that his mother gave him.

Always be a good boy, don't ever play with guns
The singer's mother advised him to avoid any violent behaviors, particularly involving the use of guns.

But I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die
Despite his mother's advice, the singer has committed a violent crime that has landed him in prison.

When I hear that train a-pulling I hang my head and cry
The sound of the train pulling reminds the singer of his lost freedom and the regret he feels for his past actions.

I bet there's rich folks in their fancy shining cars
The singer imagines that wealthy people live lives of luxury and comfort, in stark contrast to his own life in prison.

They're probably drinking coffee and smoking big cigars
The singer imagines that wealthy people have access to all sorts of luxuries that he does not have while he is incarcerated.

But I know I had it coming, I know I can't be free
Despite his regrets, the singer knows that he was responsible for his own actions and will likely never be truly free from the consequences of those actions.

But I keep on keep a-moving, well that's what tortures me
The singer feels trapped by his past mistakes and the seemingly endless routine of life in prison, which he cannot escape no matter how hard he tries.

If they'd free me from this prison, if that railroad train was mine
The singer imagines what it would be like to finally be released from prison and have the freedom to own his own train.

You bet I moved it on a little further down the line
Given the chance, the singer would waste no time getting as far away from Folsom Prison as possible.

Far from Folsom Prison that's where I long to stay
The singer dreams of a life far away from the prison that has held him captive for so long.

And I'd let that lonesome whistle blow my blues away
If he were free, the singer would use the train whistle to chase away the sadness and loneliness that has plagued him while he was in prison.

Contributed by Julian N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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