Folsom Prison Blues
The Folsom Prison Gang Lyrics

I hear the train a comin′
The singer is aware that a train is approaching

It's rollin′ 'round the bend
The train is navigating a curved path

And I ain't seen the sunshine
The singer has been deprived of sunshine

Since, I don′t know when
The duration of deprivation is unknown to the artist

I′m stuck in Folsom Prison
The artist is incarcerated in Folsom Prison

And time keeps draggin' on
The passage of time feels slow to the singer

But that train keeps a-rollin′
The train continues moving towards San Antone

On down to San Antone
The train's destination is San Antone

When I was just a baby
The artist's age at which a lesson was imparted

My Mama told me, "Son
The artist's mother offered some advice

Always be a good boy
The advice given was to always behave in a positive manner

Don't ever play with guns"
Playing with firearms is not an appropriate activity

But I shot a man in Reno
The singer unlawfully killed a specific individual in a particular location

Just to watch him die
The singer took pleasure in witnessing the man's death

When I hear that whistle blowin′
The sound of the train whistle elicits a profound emotional response in the singer

I hang my head and cry
The artist feels immense sorrow and shame

I bet there's rich folks eatin′
Wealthy individuals are likely eating

In a fancy dining car
They are consuming food in a luxurious train compartment

They're probably drinkin' coffee
It is possible that they are drinking coffee

And smokin′ big cigars
It is possible that they are smoking cigars

But I know I had it comin′
The artist believes that their current predicament is deserved

I know I can't be free
The artist is aware that they cannot be freed from prison

But those people keep a-movin′
The train passengers continue to travel

And that's what tortures me
The realization that they cannot do the same is painful for the artist

Well, if they freed me from this prison
The singer imagines being freed from captivity

If that railroad train was mine
The singer wishes to own the train

I bet I′d move out over a little
If they owned the train, they would likely move further away

Farther down the line
The artist desires to travel beyond their current location

Far from Folsom Prison
The artist wishes to be removed from Folsom Prison indefinitely

That's where I want to stay
The singer wants to remain far away from Folsom Prison

And I′d let that lonesome whistle
The sound of the train whistle would have a different effect on the singer

Blow my blues away
The artist hopes that the train whistle would alleviate their sorrow