Folsom Prison Blues

"Folsom Prison Blues" is an American country music song credited to Johnny Cash. The song combines elements from two popular folk genres, the train song and the prison song, both of which Cash would continue to use for the rest of his career. It has become one of Cash's signature songs and the most notable song on Cash's "At Folsom Prison" album which is widely considered to be one of the top 100 albums of all time. Notable covers of this song include versions done by The Gin Blossoms, Reverend Horton Heat, Brooks & Dunn and The Folsom Prison Gang.

[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 blowing, I hang my head and cry [Verse 3] 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 [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