Johnny Cash - Folsom Prison Blues (Cover)

Johnny Cash was inspired to write Folsom Prison Blues after seeing the movie Inside the Walls of Folsom Prison (1951) while serving in West Germany in the United States Air Force. Cash recounted how he came up with the "Reno" line: "I sat with my pen in my hand, trying to think up the worst reason a person could have for killing another person, and that's what came to mind."

In the lyrics of Folsom Prison Blues, the jailed protagonist listens to the whistle of a train outside his cell and recounts his crimes ("I shot a man in Reno/just to watch him die"), imagines the free people inside the train ("They're probably drinking coffee and smoking big cigars") and dreams of what he would do if he were free. "I know I had it coming/I know I can't be free," sings the imprisoned man. "But those people keep a'moving/and that's what tortures me."

Writers: Gordon Jenkins, Johnny Cash
Producer: Sam Phillips, Sun Records
Recorded: July 30, 1955

FOLSOM PRISON BLUES

I hear the train a comin'
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.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Johnny
• Cash
• Folsom
• Prison
• Blues
• Cover

[TheMr1911]

The point of this sing is to be sad.

[TheBoltdude]

all I can say is WOW!!!!

[bytoriasnowdoggy]

That was cookin'.......Rock!!!!!!

[outofthinair1]

Very cool cover 

[riverzen]

nice guitar work

[stuartramsden1]

Refreshing Cover Lads -- Great Version, Thumbs Up From Me!!

[geraldhew]

andytford your comment is way off the mark mate,,writing pissh lol

[andytford]

I have not heard a cover better than this. I believe you took a great song and made it even better.

[texan2448]

You play the guitar great but you ruined the song with the different style. That song was meant to be played the way cash played it. Great playing though

[condorito24]

awesome...just awesome...more videos please!