Folsom Prison Blues
Walk the line soundtrack - Joaquin Phoenix 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 Anton
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'd free me from this prison,
If that railroad train was mine
I bet I'd move it all a little further 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
In these lyrics, the singer of the song, who is in Folsom prison, expresses his feelings of isolation and longing for freedom. The song begins with the sound of a train approaching, symbolizing the passage of time and the inevitability of his imprisonment. He mentions that he hasn't seen the sunshine in a long time, representing his loss of freedom and the restricted nature of his existence.
The singer reveals that he ended up in prison after shooting a man in Reno, not out of necessity, but seemingly for the pleasure of witnessing his death. This act reflects a deep sense of despair and detachment from his own actions. When he hears the whistle of the approaching train, he feels remorse and hangs his head in sorrow, realizing the consequences of his actions.
The singer becomes bitter when he imagines the wealthy, privileged individuals on the train, enjoying their luxurious dining experience while he remains trapped in his cell. He acknowledges that he deserves to be in prison, but he remains tormented by the fact that society keeps moving forward while he is left behind, unable to escape the consequences of his choices.
In a fantasy of freedom, the singer dreams of being released from prison and owning the train that taunts him. He imagines moving the train further down the line, distancing himself from Folsom prison and the suffering it represents. The lonesome whistle of the train becomes a symbol of the singer's desire to escape his blues and find solace in a place far away from his current circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
I hear the train a comin'
I can hear the approaching train
It's rolling round the bend
It's making its way around the curve
And I ain't seen the sunshine since I don't know when
I haven't seen sunlight for a very long time
I'm stuck in Folsom prison, and time keeps draggin' on
I'm trapped in Folsom prison and time seems to pass slowly
But that train keeps a rollin' on down to San Anton
But the train continues its journey to San Anton
When I was just a baby my mama told me, son
When I was a young child, my mother advised me, my son
Always be a good boy, don't ever play with guns
Always behave well and never engage in gunplay
But I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die
However, I intentionally killed a man in Reno out of curiosity
When I hear that whistle blowing I hang my head and cry
Whenever I hear the sound of the whistle, I feel remorseful and cry
I bet there's rich folks eating in a fancy dining car
I suppose wealthy individuals are dining luxuriously in a fancy train car
They're probably drinkin' coffee and smoking big cigars
They're most likely enjoying coffee and smoking large cigars
Well I know I had it coming, I know I can't be free
Well, I acknowledge that I deserved the consequences and understand that I cannot attain freedom
But those people keep a movin'
However, those people continue to move forward
And that's what tortures me
And that is what torments me
Well if they'd free me from this prison
Well, if they were to release me from this prison
If that railroad train was mine
If I owned that railroad train
I bet I'd move it all a little further down the line
I am confident that I would move it a bit farther along the track
Far from Folsom prison, that's where I want to stay
I desire to be far away from Folsom prison, that's where I wish to remain
And I'd let that lonesome whistle blow my blues away
And I would allow that melancholic whistle to alleviate my sadness
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Johnny R. Cash
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind