Country Music

Classic Country Music Hits

Country Music

Johnny Cash’s oldest brother Roy was the first Cash to make a small splash in the music industry. Roy started a band called the Dixie Rhythm Ramblers, who for a time had a show on radio station KCLN and played all around Arkansas. Johnny’s family also regularly sang spirituals together, either at the family home or at his grandparents’ dinner table. Johnny himself sang at school and in church, even once winning a talent show and the $5 that went with the victory. Despite his obvious interest in music and talent for it, Johnny wouldn’t get a guitar and start seriously writing songs until he joined the United States Air Force and was shipped away to Germany. His guitar, purchased in Oberammergau, cost about the same amount he’d won in that talent show years before. Soon, he was playing with a bunch of like-minded servicemen in a ragtag band branded the Landsberg Barbarians. He began to write songs, too, including the first version of his first big hit, “Folsom Prison Blues.” Although he would make half-hearted attempts to work a “real” job on his return from the service in 1954, mostly to support his new wife and children, Johnny Cash had found his path in life and pursued it from then on. Photo: Johnny and his brother, Roy Cash, with their wives Vivian and Wandene 1956.

“Scroll down to the end of the article to listen to music.”

Introduction

“Folsom Prison Blues” is a classic song by the legendary American singer-songwriter Johnny Cash. Released in 1955, it quickly became one of Cash’s signature songs, renowned for its raw depiction of life in prison and its haunting narrative. The song’s enduring popularity is a testament to its powerful storytelling and Cash’s compelling performance, both of which contribute to its status as a staple in the country music genre.

Cash wrote “Folsom Prison Blues” after serving in the United States Air Force, drawing inspiration from a movie about life in Folsom Prison. The song’s gritty portrayal of a prisoner’s remorse and longing for freedom struck a chord with audiences, establishing Cash as a formidable voice in country music.

About The Composition

  • Title: Folsom Prison Blues
  • Composer: Johnny Cash
  • Premiere Date: 1955
  • Album/Opus/Collection: With His Hot and Blue Guitar
  • Genre: Country

Background

Johnny Cash wrote “Folsom Prison Blues” while he was stationed in Germany with the U.S. Air Force. Inspired by the film “Inside the Walls of Folsom Prison,” he crafted a narrative from the perspective of an inmate longing for freedom. The song was initially recorded at Sun Studio in Memphis, Tennessee, and became one of Cash’s earliest hits. Its success helped to define Cash’s outlaw image, which he cultivated throughout his career.

Musical Style

“Folsom Prison Blues” is characterized by its distinctive boom-chicka-boom rhythm, a trademark of Cash’s style. The song features simple yet evocative guitar work, underscored by Cash’s deep, resonant voice. This minimalist approach to instrumentation allows the storytelling to take center stage, enhancing the song’s emotional impact.

Lyrics/Libretto

The lyrics of “Folsom Prison Blues” convey the deep regret and yearning of a prisoner who reflects on his past actions and dreams of freedom. With lines like “I shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die,” the song captures the stark reality of crime and punishment, resonating with listeners through its vivid storytelling.

Performance History

One of the most iconic performances of “Folsom Prison Blues” occurred when Johnny Cash played it live at Folsom State Prison in 1968. The performance was recorded and released as part of the album “At Folsom Prison,” which revitalized Cash’s career and solidified his status as a champion of the downtrodden and disenfranchised.

Cultural Impact

“Folsom Prison Blues” has had a significant cultural impact, influencing countless musicians and appearing in various films and television shows. Its portrayal of prison life and its gritty realism have made it a touchstone in American music history, often cited in discussions about the intersection of music and social issues.

Legacy

Today, “Folsom Prison Blues” remains a vital part of Johnny Cash’s legacy. It continues to be celebrated for its storytelling and musical simplicity, inspiring new generations of artists. The song’s enduring importance is a testament to Cash’s ability to capture the human experience in his music.

Conclusion

“Folsom Prison Blues” stands as a powerful example of Johnny Cash’s influence on music and culture. Its haunting narrative and evocative style invite listeners to explore the depths of human emotion and the consequences of one’s actions. I encourage you to delve deeper into Cash’s discography to appreciate the full scope of his artistry.

Video

Lyrics

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

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

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

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

Related Post

Country Music

Perhaps the most famous—and dramatic—story is Kris Kristofferson’s unbelievable “dropped from the sky” introduction to Johnny Cash. In the late 1960s, Kristofferson—then an unknown young songwriter working as a janitor at Columbia Records in Nashville—had tried repeatedly to hand his demos to Cash, but always failed. His tapes would routinely get lost among the countless recordings the “Man in Black” received. Determined, Kristofferson—who’d served as a helicopter pilot in the military—took a daring step. During a National Guard training flight, he secretly altered the flight plan, piloted the helicopter himself, and landed it right in the yard of Johnny Cash’s home in Hendersonville, Tennessee. There are a few versions of what happened next. Cash often joked that Kristofferson emerged from the helicopter with a demo tape in one hand and a beer in the other. Kristofferson, however, insists he never drank beer while flying and wasn’t even sure Cash was home at the time. Whatever the precise truth, this audacious stunt worked beyond anyone’s imagination—it grabbed Johnny Cash’s attention in a powerful way. Not long after, Cash invited Kristofferson onstage at the Newport Folk Festival, and, most significantly, decided to record Kristofferson’s song “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down.” That recording became a chart-topping hit, won the Country Music Association’s “Song of the Year,” and officially catapulted Kris Kristofferson to stardom.

Country Music

“Tricia Lucus Kept The Last Song Toby Keith Wrote For Her – Because Of A Love Too Private, Too Deep” . It is said that Toby Keith wrote his last song for his wife, Tricia, but she never shared it with anyone. Not because of selfishness, but because there are things in love that are only for two people – no spotlight, no pretense, just the whispers between two hearts that have been together for nearly 40 years. 🎶 Listen again to ‘Forever Hasn’t Got Here Yet’ – a song Toby once sang: love sometimes doesn’t need to be proven, it just needs to exist.

Country Music

“I love this place like I love life itself,” Hank Jr. confessed, standing atop a granite ledge far above the valley floor where he once survived a harrowing 500-foot fall off Ajax Mountain in 1975. Despite that near-death experience, complete with the roar of rushing wind that felt like nature warning him to turn back, he remained a part-time resident of Montana for decades, describing its dense forests, sparkling rivers, and endless Big Sky as “probably the place that I love more than anywhere in the world.” That fierce connection to the land—and his unbreakable spirit—is perfectly captured in his signature anthem “A Country Boy Can Survive” by Hank Williams Jr., a song that makes you feel the call of the wild with every guitar strum and harmonica breath.

You Missed

Country Music

Perhaps the most famous—and dramatic—story is Kris Kristofferson’s unbelievable “dropped from the sky” introduction to Johnny Cash. In the late 1960s, Kristofferson—then an unknown young songwriter working as a janitor at Columbia Records in Nashville—had tried repeatedly to hand his demos to Cash, but always failed. His tapes would routinely get lost among the countless recordings the “Man in Black” received. Determined, Kristofferson—who’d served as a helicopter pilot in the military—took a daring step. During a National Guard training flight, he secretly altered the flight plan, piloted the helicopter himself, and landed it right in the yard of Johnny Cash’s home in Hendersonville, Tennessee. There are a few versions of what happened next. Cash often joked that Kristofferson emerged from the helicopter with a demo tape in one hand and a beer in the other. Kristofferson, however, insists he never drank beer while flying and wasn’t even sure Cash was home at the time. Whatever the precise truth, this audacious stunt worked beyond anyone’s imagination—it grabbed Johnny Cash’s attention in a powerful way. Not long after, Cash invited Kristofferson onstage at the Newport Folk Festival, and, most significantly, decided to record Kristofferson’s song “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down.” That recording became a chart-topping hit, won the Country Music Association’s “Song of the Year,” and officially catapulted Kris Kristofferson to stardom.

Country Music

“Tricia Lucus Kept The Last Song Toby Keith Wrote For Her – Because Of A Love Too Private, Too Deep” . It is said that Toby Keith wrote his last song for his wife, Tricia, but she never shared it with anyone. Not because of selfishness, but because there are things in love that are only for two people – no spotlight, no pretense, just the whispers between two hearts that have been together for nearly 40 years. 🎶 Listen again to ‘Forever Hasn’t Got Here Yet’ – a song Toby once sang: love sometimes doesn’t need to be proven, it just needs to exist.

Country Music

Johnny Cash’s oldest brother Roy was the first Cash to make a small splash in the music industry. Roy started a band called the Dixie Rhythm Ramblers, who for a time had a show on radio station KCLN and played all around Arkansas. Johnny’s family also regularly sang spirituals together, either at the family home or at his grandparents’ dinner table. Johnny himself sang at school and in church, even once winning a talent show and the $5 that went with the victory. Despite his obvious interest in music and talent for it, Johnny wouldn’t get a guitar and start seriously writing songs until he joined the United States Air Force and was shipped away to Germany. His guitar, purchased in Oberammergau, cost about the same amount he’d won in that talent show years before. Soon, he was playing with a bunch of like-minded servicemen in a ragtag band branded the Landsberg Barbarians. He began to write songs, too, including the first version of his first big hit, “Folsom Prison Blues.” Although he would make half-hearted attempts to work a “real” job on his return from the service in 1954, mostly to support his new wife and children, Johnny Cash had found his path in life and pursued it from then on. Photo: Johnny and his brother, Roy Cash, with their wives Vivian and Wandene 1956.

Country Music

“I love this place like I love life itself,” Hank Jr. confessed, standing atop a granite ledge far above the valley floor where he once survived a harrowing 500-foot fall off Ajax Mountain in 1975. Despite that near-death experience, complete with the roar of rushing wind that felt like nature warning him to turn back, he remained a part-time resident of Montana for decades, describing its dense forests, sparkling rivers, and endless Big Sky as “probably the place that I love more than anywhere in the world.” That fierce connection to the land—and his unbreakable spirit—is perfectly captured in his signature anthem “A Country Boy Can Survive” by Hank Williams Jr., a song that makes you feel the call of the wild with every guitar strum and harmonica breath.