Nine Pound Hammer first played at The Ross Theater in nearby Evansville, Indiana, with drummer Toby Myrig, David Epperson, and bassist Brian (Forrest) Payne. David and Brian left, and Bart Altman joined on bass. This lineup played locally in Owensboro, Kentucky and Evansville before relocating to Lexington, Kentucky as the Raw Recruit. The band then changed the name to the Black Sheep and became the house band at Great Scott's Depot. Darren Howard replaced Toby, and the band became Nine Pound Hammer again.
The band has six full length albums and several EPs.
In 2005, Nine Pound Hammer was asked to pen a theme song and lyrics for 12 oz. Mouse, a new Adult Swim animated series showing on America's Cartoon Network. Scott Luallen also appears in the series as the voice actor for the character Roostre.
Folsom Prison Blues
Nine Pound Hammer Lyrics
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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.
But I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die
I bet there's rich folks eating in 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...
Nine Pound Hammer's song Folsom Prison Blues tells the story of a man stuck in Folsom prison after having shot a man in Reno. The song's protagonist starts with describing his situation, stuck in prison where he hasn't seen the sunshine in a long time, and time seems to be dragging on. However, as he hears the train rolling round the bend, he feels a sense of hope, as he knows that "that train keeps a rollin' on down to San Antone." In the second verse, he explains how his mother warned him not to play with guns but still ended up shooting a man in Reno, an act that he admits was foolish and regrets deeply.
In the third verse, the singer imagines rich people eating in a fancy dining car and drinking coffee and smoking cigars, which only adds to his frustration about being stuck in prison. He acknowledges that he knows he had it coming and cannot be free, but what frustrates him the most is that those people keep moving, and he's not able to. In the final verse, the singer wishes to be freed from the prison and have that railroad train to be his own. He dreams of moving farther down the line, far from Folsom prison, where he could let the lonesome whistle blow his blues away.
Line by Line Meaning
I hear the train a comin'
I can hear a train approaching
It's rolling round the bend
The train is going around a curve
And I ain't seen the sunshine since I don't know when,
I haven't seen daylight for an unknown amount of time
I'm stuck in Folsom prison, and time keeps draggin' on
I am imprisoned in Folsom and time seems to go by slowly
But that train keeps a rollin' on down to San Antone.
The train continues on its journey to San Antonio
When I was just a baby my mama told me. Son,
My mother gave me a piece of advice when I was very young
Always be a good boy, don't ever play with guns.
She told me to avoid guns and always be well-behaved
But I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die
I killed someone in Reno for no reason
When I hear that whistle blowing, I hang my head and cry.
I feel emotional when I hear the sound of the train whistle
I bet there's rich folks eating in a fancy dining car
Wealthy people are probably dining in a luxurious train car
They're probably drinkin' coffee and smoking big cigars.
They may be drinking coffee and smoking large cigars
Well I know I had it coming, I know I can't be free
I understand that I deserve to be imprisoned and cannot escape
But those people keep a movin'
The train passengers keep moving along
And that's what tortures me...
Their freedom to move about tortures me
Well if they freed me from this prison,
If I were released from prison
If that railroad train was mine
If I owned the train
I bet I'd move it on a little farther down the line
I would continue to drive the train further down the tracks
Far from Folsom prison, that's where I want to stay
I would choose to live far away from Folsom prison
And I'd let that lonesome whistle blow my blues away...
I would enjoy hearing the sound of the train whistle and singing my sorrows away
Writer(s): John R. Cash
Contributed by Ian L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.