Folsom Prison Blues
Waylon Jennings Lyrics
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It's rollin' '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
When I hear that whistle blowin'
I hang my head and cry
I bet there's rich folks eatin'
In a fancy dining car
They're probably drinkin' coffee
And smokin' big cigars
But I know I had it comin'
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 out over 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
The lyrics to Waylon Jennings's "Folsom Prison Blues" describe a man who is stuck in Folsom Prison and has lost track of time. He hears the train coming and thinks about how it's heading towards San Antone. He wishes the train was his, so he could leave the prison and travel far away. The second verse describes his past, in which his mother told him to always be a good boy and not play with guns. However, the singer admits to shooting a man in Reno just to watch him die. The whistle blowing of the train reminds him of his guilt and he hangs his head and cries.
In the final verse, the singer fixates on the idea of being released from prison and leaving the area altogether. He imagines that the rich folks on the train are enjoying their lives while he is in prison serving his sentence. However, he knows he had it coming and can never truly be free. His desire is to move far away from Folsom Prison and let the lonesome whistle blow his blues away.
Line by Line Meaning
I hear the train a comin'
I can hear the sound of the train coming towards the prison.
It's rollin' 'round the bend
The train is coming around the bend.
And I ain't seen the sunshine
I have not seen the sun for a long time.
Since, I don't know when
I cannot remember when I saw the sun last.
I'm stuck in Folsom Prison
I am imprisoned in Folsom Prison.
And time keeps draggin' on
Time passes slowly and feels endless.
But that train keeps a-rollin'
The train continues to move past the prison.
On down to San Antone
It is going towards San Antone.
When I was just a baby
When I was young.
My Mama told me, 'Son
My mother said to me.
Always be a good boy
I should always behave well.
Don't ever play with guns'
I should never play around with guns.
But I shot a man in Reno
I killed a man in Reno.
'Just to watch him die
I had no reason; I just wanted to see him die.
When I hear that whistle blowin'
When I hear the sound of the train whistle.
I hang my head and cry
I feel sad and remorseful.
I bet there's rich folks eatin'
I am sure there are wealthy people having a meal.
In a fancy dining car
They are dining in a luxurious car.
They're probably drinkin' coffee
They are most likely drinking coffee.
And smokin' big cigars
They are smoking big cigars.
But I know I had it comin'
I know I deserved to be imprisoned.
I know I can't be free
I know I cannot be released from prison.
But those people keep a-movin'
But those people keep moving forward.
And that's what tortures me
That thought haunts me.
Well, if they freed me from this prison
If they released me from this prison.
If that railroad train was mine
If I owned that locomotive.
I bet I'd move out over a little
I would move away from here a little bit.
Farther down the line
Further down the tracks.
Far from Folsom Prison
Far away from Folsom Prison.
That's where I want to stay
That's where I would like to be.
And I'd let that lonesome whistle
I would listen to that mournful sound of the train whistle.
Blow my blues away
I would let it take my sorrows away.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Johnny R. Cash
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind