TopTenREVIEWS presents the reviews for At Folsom Prison
Email to a friend
At Folsom Prison
by Johnny Cash
ALBUM RANKINGS:
Ratings and rankings are based on all available critic reviews and awards.
Overall Rating:
3.5374
Avg. Critic Score:
4.0000
At Folsom Prison Lyrics
Lyrics
Disc
Track
Title
- 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.....
- [Thanks to thepheonixrevelation@yahoo.com, flamingogirl17@bellsouth.net for correcting these lyrics]
- At my door the leaves are falling
- A cold wild wind has come
- Sweethearts walk by together
- And I still miss someone
- I go out on a party
- And look for a little fun
- But I find a darkened corner
- because I still miss someone
- Oh, no I never got over those blues eyes
- I see them every where
- I miss those arms that held me
- When all the love was there
- I wonder if she's sorry
- For leavin' what we'd begun
- There's someone for me somewhere
- And I still miss someone
- Well they're building a gallows outside my cell I've got 25 minutes to go
- And the whole town's waitin' just to hear me yell I've got 24 minutes to go
- Well they gave me some beans for my last meal I've got 23 minutes to go
- But nobody asked me how I feel I've got 22 minutes to go
- Well I sent for the governor and the whole dern bunch with 21 minutes to go
- And I sent for the mayor but he's out to lunch I've got 20 more minutes to go
- Then the sheriff said boy I gonna watch you die got 19 minutes to go
- So I laughed in his face and I spit in his eye got 18 minutes to go
- Now hear comes the preacher for to save my soul with 13 minutes to go
- And he's talking bout' burnin' but I'm so cold I've 12 more minutes to go
- Now they're testin' the trap and it chills my spine 11 more minutes to go
- And the trap and the rope aw they work just fine got 10 more minutes to go
- Well I'm waitin' on the pardon that'll set me free with 9 more minutes to go
- But this is for real so forget about me got 8 more minutes to go
- With my feet on the trap and my head on the noose got 5 more minutes to go
- Won't somebody come and cut me loose with 4 more minutes to go
- I can see the mountains I can see the skies with 3 more minutes to go
- And it's to dern pretty for a man that don't wanna die 2 more minutes to go
- I can see the buzzards I can hear the crows 1 more minute to go
- And now I'm swingin' and here I go-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o!
- Look a-yonder comin'
- Comin' down that railroad track
- Hey, look a-yonder comin'
- Comin' down that railroad track
- It's the Orange Blossom Special
- Bringin' my baby back
- Well, I'm going down to Florida
- And get some sand in my shoes
- Or maybe Californy
- And get some sand in my shoes
- I'll ride that Orange Blossom Special
- And lose these New York blues
- Hey talk about a-ramblin'
- She's the fastest train on the line
- Talk about a-travellin'
- She's the fastest train on the line
- It's that Orange Blossom Special
- Rollin' down the seaboard line
- Ten years ago, on a cold dark night
- Someone was killed, 'neath the town hall light
- There were few at the scene, but they all agreed
- That the slayer who ran, looked a lot like me
- The judge said son, what is your alibi
- If you were somewhere else, then you won't have to die
- I spoke not a word, thou it meant my life
- For I'd been in the arms of my best friend's wife
- [Chorus:]
- She walks these hills in a long black veil
- She visits my grave when the night winds wail
- Nobody knows, nobody sees
- Nobody knows but me
- Oh, the scaffold is high and eternity's near
- She stood in the crowd and shed not a tear
- But late at night, when the north wind blows
- In a long black veil, she cries ov're my bones
- [Chorus]
- After seven years behind these bars together
- I'll miss you more than a brother when you go when you go
- If only I had not tried to escape
- They'd barred me with you I know yes I know
- Won't you tell the folks back home I'll soon be coming
- And don't let them know I never will be free be free
- Sometimes write and tell me how they're doing
- And send a picture of mother back to me
- Say hello to Dad and shake his poor hardworking hand
- And send a picture of mother if you can
- I'm happy for you that you got your freedom
- But stay with me just another minute or so or so
- After all this sweating blood together
- Who'll be my fighting partner when you go when you go
- The hardest time will be on Sunday morning
- Church bells will ring on Heaven Hill Heaven Hill
- Please ask Reverend Garrett to pray for me
- And send a picture of mother if you will
- Say hello to Dad and shake his poor hardworking hand
- And send a picture of mother if you can
- Theres a lot of strange men in cell block ten
- But the strangest of them all
- Was a friend of mine who spent his time staring at the wall
- Staring at thewall
- As he stared at that wall so strong and tall
- You could hear him softly curse nobody at all
- Ever climbed that wall but i'm gona be the first
- Yeah i'm gona be the first
- The warden walked by and said son don't try
- I'd hate to see you fall
- For there is no doubt they'll carry you out
- If you ever touch that wall
- If you ever touch that wall
- Well a years gone by since he made his try
- But I can still recall
- How hard he tried and the way he died
- But he never made that wall
- He never made that wall
- Theres never been a man ever shook this can
- But I know a man who tried
- The newspapers called it a jail break plan
- But I know it was suicide
- I know it was suicide
- Well he's not very handsome to look at
- Oh he's shaggy and he eats like a hog
- And he's always killin' my chickens
- That dirty old egg-suckin' dog
- Egg-suckin' dog
- I'm gonna stomp your head in the ground
- If you don't stay out of my hen house
- You dirty old egg-suckin' hound
- Now if he don't stop eatin' my eggs up
- Though I'm not a real bad guy
- I'm gonna get my riffle and send him
- To that great chicken house in the sky
- Egg-suckin' dog
- Your always hangin' around
- But you'd better stay out of my hen house
- You dirty old egg-suckin' hound
- From the backdoor of your life you swept me out dear
- In the bread line of your dreams I lost my place
- At the table of your love I got the brush off
- At the Indianapolis of your heart I lost the race
- I've been washed down the sink of your conscience
- In the theater of your love I lost my part
- And now you say you've got me out of your conscience
- I've been flushed from the bathroom of your heart
- In the garbage disposal of you dreams I've been ground up dear
- On the river of your plans I'm up the creek
- Up the elevator of your future I've been shafted
- On the calendar of your events I'm last week
- I've been washed down the sink of your conscience
- In the theater of your love I lost my part
- And now you say you've got me out of your conscience
- I've been flushed from the bathroom of your heart
- "Last time we were here at Folsom Prison, they were hanging Joe Bean. Is Joe still here... Joe Bean? Hang the son of a
- Bitch anyways, right?"
- Well, they're hanging Joe Bean this morning, for killing a man in Arkansas. Funny thing about it, Joe Bean has never been
- To Arkansas. On top of that, Joe Bean never heard of the man. In fact, today is Joe Bean's twentieth birthday.
- See through the prison bars, Joe Bean, see where the gallows stand. Just twenty short years from the day you were born,
- You die by the hangman's hand.
- Yes, they're hanging Joe Bean this morning, for a shooting that he never did. He killed 20 men, by the time he was 10, he
- Was an unruly kid.
- Yes, they're hanging Joe Bean for the one shooting that Joe Bean never did.
- Well, Joe - your mother is at the Capitol, asking the governor for a stay. And it's hard on her, 'cause she knows where
- You were, on that particular day. You were working, Joe Bean, hardworking, robbing the Santa Fe.
- Well, the telegraph wires are humming. Hear the governor's words come through. He said, "I can't set you free, it's not
- Up to me, but this much, Joe Bean, I'll do. I'll join your mother in extending birthday greetings to you. Happy Birthday,
- Joe Bean."
- We got married in a fever, hotter than a pepper sprout,
- We've been talkin' 'bout Jackson, ever since the fire went out.
- I'm goin' to Jackson, I'm gonna mess around,
- Yeah, I'm goin' to Jackson,
- Look out Jackson town.
- Well, go on down to Jackson; go ahead and wreck your health.
- Go play your hand you big-talkin' man, make a big fool of yourself,
- You're goin' to Jackson; go comb your hair!
- Honey, I'm gonna snowball Jackson.
- See if I care.
- When I breeze into that city, people gonna stoop and bow. (Hah!)
- All them women gonna make me, teach 'em what they don't know how,
- I'm goin' to Jackson, you turn-a loose-a my coat.
- 'Cos I'm goin' to Jackson.
- But they'll laugh at you in Jackson, and I'll be dancin' on a Pony Keg.
- They'll lead you 'round town like a scalded hound,
- With your tail tucked between your legs,
- You're goin' to Jackson, you big-talkin' man.
- And I'll be waitin' in Jackson, behind my Jaypan Fan,
- Well now, we got married in a fever, hotter than a pepper Sprout,
- We've been talkin' 'bout Jackson, ever since the fire went out.
- I'm goin' to Jackson, and that's a fact.
- Yeah, we're goin' to Jackson, ain't never comin' back.
- Well, we got married in a fever, hotter than a pepper sprout'
- And we've been talkin' 'bout Jackson, ever since the fire went...
- [To Fade]
- [Thanks to kissesfrmhaley@yahoo.com, shotzee13@yahoo.com for correcting these lyrics]
- I found him by the railroad track this morning
- I could see that he was nearly dead
- I knelt down beside him and I listened
- Just to hear the words the dying fellow said
- He said they let me out of prison down in Frisco
- For ten long years I've paid for what I've done
- I was trying to get back to Louisiana
- To see my Rose and get to know my son
- [Chorus:]
- Give my love to Rose please won't you mister
- Take her all my money, tell her to buy some pretty clothes
- Tell my boy his daddy's so proud of him
- And don't forget to give my love to Rose
- Tell them I said thanks for waiting for me
- Tell my boy to help his mom at home
- Tell my Rose to try to find another
- For it ain't right that she should live alone
- Mister here's a bag with all my money
- It won't last them long the way it goes
- God bless you for finding me this morning
- And don't forget to give my love to Rose
- [Chorus:]
- Give my love to Rose please won't you mister
- Take her all my money, tell her to buy some pretty clothes
- Tell my boy his daddy's so proud of him
- And don't forget to give my love to Rose
- On A Monday I Was Ar-rested (Uh Huh)
- On A Tuesday They Locked Me In The Jail (Oh Boy)
- On A Wednesday My Trial Was At-tested
- On A Thursday They Said Guilty And The Judge's Gavel Fell
- I Got Stripes --- Stripes Around My Shoulders
- I Got Chains --- Chains Around My Feet
- I Got Stripes --- Stripes Around My Shoulders
- And Them Chains --- Them Chains They're About To Drag Me Down
- On A Monday My Momma Come To See Me
- On A Tuesday They Caught Me With A File
- On A Wednesday I'm Down In Solitary
- On A Thursday I Start On Bread And Water For A While
- I Got Stripes --- Stripes Around My Shoulders
- I Got Chains --- Chains Around My Feet
- I Got Stripes --- Stripes Around My Shoulders
- And Them Chains --- Them Chains They're About To Drag Me Down
- I Got Stripes --- Stripes Around My Shoulders
- I Got Chains --- Chains Around My Feet
- I Got Stripes --- Stripes Around My Shoulders
- And Them Chains --- Them Chains They're About To Drag Me
- Johnny Henry's pappy woke him up one midnight
- He said "Before the sheriff comes I wanna tell you," Said "Listen boy
- Learn to hoist a jack and learn to lay a track learn to pick and shovel too
- And take that hammer, It'll do anything you tell it to."
- John Henry's mammy had about a dozen babies
- John Henry's pappy broke jail about a dozen times
- The babies all got sick and when the doctor wanted money
- He said, "I'll pay you a quarter at a time startin' tomorrow
- that's the pay for a steel driver on this line."
- Then the section foreman said, "Hey! Hammer-swinger!
- I see you your own hammer boy but, what all can them muscles do?" and he said,
- "I can turn a jack I can lay a track I can pick and shovel too."
- "Can you swing a hammer, boy?" "Yes sir, I'll do anything you hire me to."
- Spoken:
- "Now ain't you somethin'! So high and mighty with all that muscle! Just go
- ahead, boy. Pick up that hammer, pick up the hammer!"
- He said to get a rusted spike and swing it down three times
- I'll pay you a nickel a day for every inch you sink it to
- Go on and do what you say you can do
- With a steel-nosed hammer on a four foot switch handle
- John Henry raised it back til' it touched his heels then
- The spike went through the cross-tie and split it half in two
- Thirty-five cents a day for drivin' steel
- "Sweat! Sweat, boy! Sweat! Only two more swings!"
- "I was born drivin' steel"
- Well John Henry hammered in the mountain
- He'd give a grunt he give a groan every swing
- The women-folks from miles around heard him and come down
- To watch make the coal-steel ring "Lord! What a swinger!
- Watch him make the coal-steel ring"
- But the bad boys came up laughin' at John Henry
- They said," Your full of vinegar now but you bout' through!
- We gonna get a steamdrill to do your share of drivin'
- Then what's all them muscles gonna do? Huh? John Henry?
- Gonna take a little bit of vinegar out of you."
- John Henry said,"I feed for little brothers
- and baby sisters' walkin' on her knees
- Now did the Lord say that machines ought to take place of livin'?
- And what's a substitute for bread and beans? I ain't seen it!
- Do engines get rewarded for their steam?
- John Henry hid in a coal mine for his dinner nap
- Had thirty minutes to rest before the bell
- The mine boys hollered," Get up whoever you are and get a pickax
- Mine me enough to start another hell and keep it burnin'
- Mine me enough to start another hell.
- John Henry said to his captain said "A man ain't nothin' but a man
- but if you'll bring that steamdrill 'round I'll beat it fair and honest.
- I'll die with that hammer in my hand but, I'll be laughin',
- cause you can't replace a steel-drivin' man.
- There was a big crowd of people at the mountain.
- John Henry said to the steam-drill "How is you?
- (spoken) Pardon me, Mister Steamdrill I suppose you didn't hear me. Huh?
- Well, can you turn a jack? Can you lay a track? Can you pick and shovel too?
- Listen, this hammer-swinger's talkin' to you.
- (Faster...........)
- Two-thousand people hollered, "Go John Henry!!!!!"
- Then somebody hollered," The mountain's cavin' in!!!!!!"
- John Henry told the captin,"Tell the kind-folks not to worry
- It ain't nothin' but my hammer suckin' wind, it keeps me breathin'
- This steel-driver's muscle it ain't thin.
- "Captain tell the people to move back farther
- I'm at the finish line and there ain't no drill
- It's so far behind that it don't got the brains to quit it
- When she blows up she'll scatter cross the hills Lord, Lord
- When she blows up she'll scatter cross the hills"
- (Slower...........)
- (Spoken)
- Well, John Henry had a little woman
- I believe the lady's name was Paulie Ann yeah that was his good woman
- John Henry threw his hammer over his shoulder and went on home
- He laid down to rest his weary back and early next mornin' he said,
- "Come here Paulie Ann, come here sugar.
- You know I believe this is the first time there ever was the sun come
- and I couldn't come up. Take my hammer, Paulie Ann and go to that railroad
- Swing that hammer like you seen me do it
- They'll all know your John Henry's woman but tell em' that ain't all you can
- do
- Tell em'.........
- I can hoist a jack and I can lay a track I can pick and shovel too.
- Ain't no machine can that's been proved to you!
- There was a big crowd of mourners at the church house
- The section hands laid him in the sand
- Trains go by on the rails John Henry laid.
- They slow down and take off the hats, the men do
- when they come to the place where he's laying' retsina' his back.
- They say,"Mornin' Steel-driver, you sure was a hammer-swinger."
- Then they go on by pickin' up a little bit of speed.
- Clickity clack clickity clack clickity clack clickity clack
- (Fade............)
- Yonder lies a steel-drivin' man lord lord
- Yonder lies a steel-drivin' man
- Yonder lies a steel-drivin' man lord lord
- Yonder lies a steel-drivin' man
- Yonder lies a steel-drivin' man lord lord
- Yonder lies a steel-drivin' man
- The old home town looks the same,
- As I step down from the train,
- And there to meet me is my mama and my papa.
- Down the road I look, and there comes Mary,
- Hair of gold and lips like cherries.
- It's good to touch the green, green grass of home.
- The old house is still standing,
- Though the paint is cracked and dry,
- And there's the old oak tree that I used to play on.
- Down the lane I walk with my sweet Mary,
- Hair of gold and lips like cherries.
- It's good to touch the green, green grass of home.
- Yes, they'll all come to see me,
- Arms reaching, smiling sweetly.
- It's good to touch the green, green grass of home.
- Then I awake and look around me,
- At the four gray walls that surround me,
- And I realize that I was only dreaming.
- For there's a guard, and there's a sad old padre,
- Arm in arm, we'll walk at daybreak.
- Again, I'll touch the green, green grass of home.
- Yes, they'll all come to see me
- In the shade of the old oak tree,
- As they lay me 'neath the green, green grass of home.
- (Glen Sherley)
- Inside the walls of prison my body may be but my Lord has set my soul free
- There's a greystone chapel here at Folsom a house of worship in this den of sin
- You wouldn't think that God had a place here at Folsom
- But he saved the souls of many lost men
- Now there's greystone chapel here at Folsom
- Stands a hundred years all made of granite rock
- It takes a ring of keys to move here at Folsom
- But the door to the House of God is never locked
- Inside the walls of prison my body may be but my Lord has set my soul free
- [Guitar instrumental]
- There are men here that don't ever worship
- There are men here who scoff at the ones who pray
- But I've got down on my knees in that greystone chapel
- And I thank the Lord for helpin' me each day
- Now there's greystone chapel here at Folsom
- It has a touch of God's hand on ever stone
- It's a flower of light in a field of darkness and it's givin' me the strenght to carry on
- Inside the walls of prison my body may be but my Lord has set my soul free
Sponsored Links
Copyright © 2003 - 2008 TopTenREVIEWS, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of TopTenREVIEWS, Inc. is prohibited.
New Reviews Newsletter
Want to be notified when new review sites are announced? Sign up for our email review notifications.