About the song
Few songs in the history of American music have captured the raw spirit of outlaw country like “Folsom Prison Blues” by Johnny Cash. Released in 1955 and later immortalized during his legendary 1968 live performance at Folsom Prison itself, this track is more than just a song—it’s a cultural landmark that defined Cash’s image as the Man in Black and solidified his connection with the voiceless and the incarcerated.
From the very first line—“I hear the train a comin’, it’s rollin’ ’round the bend…”—Johnny Cash paints a vivid picture of longing and regret. The song’s narrator is a prisoner who can hear the sound of a distant train, a reminder of freedom and the life that could have been. The genius of “Folsom Prison Blues” lies in its simplicity: sparse lyrics, a haunting melody, and a signature boom-chicka-boom rhythm that would become synonymous with Cash’s music. It’s country, it’s blues, it’s Americana in its purest form.
One of the most talked-about lines—“I shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die”—has echoed through generations, not only because of its shocking nature, but because it captures the fatalism and darkness that Cash wasn’t afraid to confront. He didn’t glamorize violence; he exposed its emptiness, its consequences, and the weight of regret it carries.
Johnny Cash always walked a fine line between sinner and savior, and “Folsom Prison Blues” exemplifies that duality. His compassion for inmates, his understanding of human flaws, and his willingness to give voice to the forgotten all culminate in this song. When he performed it live at Folsom Prison, the cheers from real inmates weren’t just applause—they were cries of recognition, of being seen.
This song isn’t just a cornerstone of Cash’s career—it’s a bold, unflinching look into the heart of despair, longing, and the human cost of mistakes. “Folsom Prison Blues” is more than music; it’s a piece of American storytelling that continues to resonate with anyone who’s ever felt trapped by their past or haunted by what could have been.
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Lyrics
[Verse 1]
I hear the train a-comin’, 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
[Verse 2]
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
[Verse 3]
I bet there’s rich folks eatin’ 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
[Verse 4]
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