Story Behind The Song
In the song a man laments being in prison for a murder he committed.
This version was recorded live at the University of Houston by Dr. Fry's Texas Medicine Band, which was #6 on the chart of Mainstream World Wide Most Played Artists for the year 2001.
Song Description
The version is more rocking than Johnny Cash's original version. The band adds drums and piano and multiple guitars to Johnny Cash's original more bare rockabilly instrumentation.
| Song Length |
2:41 |
Genre |
Country - Rockabilly, Country - Honky Tonk |
| Tempo |
Medium Fast (131 - 150) |
Lead Vocal |
Male Vocal |
| Similar Artists |
Other Rockabilly artists |
Language |
English |
| Era |
1950 - 1959 |
| |
Lyrics
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