About the song:
“Folsom Prison Blues” is a song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter Johnny Cash. It was first released in 1955 as a single, and later included on his 1957 album Johnny Cash with His Hot and Blue Guitar!. The song is a classic example of Cash’s signature sound, with its driving rhythm, catchy melody, and stark lyrics.
Background and writing
The song was inspired by Cash’s experience visiting Folsom Prison in California in 1953. Cash was deeply moved by the stories he heard from the inmates, and he wrote the song as a way to express their pain and suffering.
Recording and release
The song was recorded in 1955 at Sun Records in Memphis, Tennessee. The session was produced by Sam Phillips, and the musicians were Cash (vocals, guitar), Luther Perkins (guitar), and Marshall Grant (bass).
The song was released as a single in 1955 and reached number one on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. It was also a Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Critical reception
“Folsom Prison Blues” has been praised by critics for its powerful lyrics and Cash’s passionate performance. In a review for AllMusic, critic Richie Unterberger called the song “a classic example of Cash’s signature sound.” He praised the song’s “driving rhythm,” “catchy melody,” and “stark lyrics.”
Impact and legacy
“Folsom Prison Blues” is one of Johnny Cash’s most famous songs. It has been covered by many artists, including Elvis Presley, June Carter Cash, and The Grateful Dead. The song has also been used in several films and television shows, including “The Shawshank Redemption” and “Folsom Prison Blues.”
“Folsom Prison Blues” is a powerful song that tells the stories of the men and women who are incarcerated in Folsom Prison. It is a song about pain, suffering, and hope. It is a song that has had a lasting impact on popular culture.
Here are some additional details about the song:
- The song was inspired by Cash’s experience visiting Folsom Prison in California in 1953.
- The song was recorded in 1955 at Sun Records in Memphis, Tennessee.
- The song was released as a single in 1955 and reached number one on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.
- The song has been covered by many artists, including Elvis Presley, June Carter Cash, and The Grateful Dead.
- The song has also been used in several films and television shows, including “The Shawshank Redemption” and “Folsom Prison Blues.”
“Folsom Prison Blues” is a powerful song that tells the stories of the men and women who are incarcerated in Folsom Prison. It is a song about pain, suffering, and hope. It is a song that has had a lasting impact on popular culture.
Video:
Lyrics:
“Folsom Prison Blues”
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 AntoneWhen 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 blowing, I hang my head and cryI 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 meWell 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