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

SooooEEEE!!

I bet there's rich folks eating from 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
				

Oh come all you young fellers so young and so fine
Seek not your fortune in a dark dreary mine
It'll form as a habit and seep in your soul
Until the stream of your blood runs as black as the coal

Where it's dark as a dungeon, damp as the dew
Danger is double, pleasures are few
Where the rain never falls, the sun never shines
It's a dark as a dungeon way down in the mine

Well it's many a man that I've seen in my day
(Uh huh, no laughing during this song please, it's being recorded)
Like a friend with his dope and a drunkard with his wine
A man will have lust for the lure of the mine

And pray when I'm dead and my ages shall roll
That my body would blacken and turn into coal
Then I'll look from the door of my heavenly home and pity the miner digging my bones

Where it's dark as a dungeon, damp as the dew
Danger is double, pleasures are few
Where the rain never falls, the sun never shines
It's a dark as a dungeon way down in the mine
				

[Verse]
At my door the leaves are falling
A cold wild wind will 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 leaving what we'd begun
There's someone for me somewhere
And I still miss someone

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 leaving what we'd begun
There's someone for me somewhere
And I still miss someone
I still miss someone
				

[Verse]
Early one morning while making the rounds
I took a shot of cocaine and I shot my woman down
I went right home and I went to bed
I stuck that loving 44 beneath my head
Got up next morning and I grabbed that gun
Took a shot of cocaine and away I run
Made a good run but I run too slow
They overtook me down in Juarez, Mexico

Late in the hot joints taking the pills
In walked the sheriff from Jericho Hill
He said, "Willy Lee, your name is not Jack Brown
You're the dirty hack that shot your woman down"
"Yes, oh yes, my name is Willy Lee
If you've got the warrant just a-read it to me
Shot her down, because she made me slow
I thought I was her daddy but she had five more"

When I was arrested I was dressed in black,
They put me on a train and they took me back
Had no friend for to go my bail
They slapped my dried up carcass in that county jail
Early next morning about a half past nine
I spied the sheriff coming down the line
Talked and he coughed as he cleared his throat
He said, "Come on you dirty hack into that district court"

Into the courtroom, my trial began
Where I was handled by twelve honest men
Just before the jury started out
I saw that little judge commence to look about
In about five minutes, in walked the man
Holding the verdict in his right hand
The verdict read, in the first degree
I hollered, "Lawdy, Lawdy, have mercy on me"
The judge, he smiled as he picked up his pin
Ninety-nine years in the Folsom Pen
Ninety-nine years underneath that ground
I can't forget the day I shot that bad bitch down

[Outro]
Come on, you've got to listen unto me
Lay off that whiskey, and let that cocaine be
				

[Verse 1]
Well they're building a gallows outside my cell
And I've got 25 minutes to go
And the whole town's waiting just to hear me yell
I got 24 minutes to go
Well they gave me some beans for my last meal
With 23 minutes to go
But nobody asked me how I feel
I got 22 minutes to go
Well I sent for the Governor and the whole dern bunch
With 21 minutes to go
And I called up the mayor but he's out to lunch
I got 20 more minutes to go
Then the sheriff said boy I'm gonna watch you die
With 19 minutes to go
So I laughed in his face and I spit in his eye
With 18 minutes to go

[Verse 2]
Now here comes the preacher for to save my soul
With 13 minutes to go
And he's talking about burning, but I'm so cold
12 more minutes to go
Now they're testing the trap and it chills my spine
11 more minutes to go
And the trap and the rope aw they work just fine
With 10 more minutes to go
Well I'm waiting on the pardon that'll set me free
With 9 more minutes to go
But this ain't the movies so forget about me
With 8 more minutes to go

[Verse 3]
With my feet on the trap and my head on the noose
5 more minutes to go
Won't somebody come and cut me loose
7 more minutes to go
I can see the mountains I can see the skies
With 3 more minutes to go
And it's too dern pretty for a man that don't want to die
With 2 more minutes to go
I can see the buzzards I can hear the crows
1 more minute to go
And now I'm swinging and here I go-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o!
				

[Verse 1]
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

[Verse 2]
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

[Interlude]
"Say man, when you going back to Florida?"
"When am I goin' back to Florida? I don't know, don't reckon I ever will."
"Ain't you worried about getting your nourishment in New York?"
"Well, I don't care if I do-die-do-die-do-die-do-die."

[Verse 3]
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
				

[Verse 1]
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

[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

[Verse 2]
The Judge said, "Son, what is your alibi?
If you were somewhere else, you won't have to die"
I spoke not a word, though it meant my life
I'd been in the arms of my best friend's wife

Now the scaffold seemed high, and eternity was near
She stood in the crowd, but she shed not a tear
But some times at night when the cold wind calls
She comes to my grave and she moans o'er my bones

[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

[Outro]
Nobody knows, nobody sees
Nobody knows but me
				

[Verse 1]
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

[Chorus]
Say hello to Dad and shake his poor hardworking hand
And send a picture of mother if you can

[Verse 2]
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

[Chorus]
Say hello to Dad and shake his poor hardworking hand
And send a picture of mother if you can
				

There's 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 the wall

In his hand was a note that his gal had wrote
Proving crime don't pay
Was the very same gal he robbed and stole for
Namin' their wedding day
Namin' their wedding day

As he looked at the wall
So strong and tall
I heard him softly curse
Nobody at all ever climbed that wall
But I'm going to be the first
I'm going to be the first

Then the warden walked by and said son don't try
I'd hate to see you fall
Because 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

Well there's never been a man who shook this camp
But I knew a man who tried
The newspapers called it a jailbreak plan
But I know it was suicide
I know it was suicide
				

[Verse]
Well he's not very handsome to look at
Oh he's shaggy and eats like a hog
And he's always killing my chickens
That dirty old egg-sucking dog
Egg-sucking dog
I'm gonna stomp your head in the ground
If you don't stay out of my hen house
You dirty old egg-sucking hound
Now if he don't stop eating my eggs up
Though I'm not a real bad guy
I'm going to get my rifle and send him
To that great chicken house in the sky
Egg-sucking dog
You're always hanging around
But you'd better stay out of my hen house
You dirty old egg-sucking hound
				

[Verse 1]
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

[Chorus]
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

[Verse 2]
In the garbage disposal of your 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

[Chorus]
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
				

Well, they're hanging Joe Bean this morning
For killing a man in Arkansas
Funny thing about it, Joe Bean
Never even heard of the man
In fact, Joe Bean never has been to Arkansas
And to top that off
Today is Joe Bean's twentieth birthday
See where the gallows stand Joe Bean
See where the gallows stand
Just twenty short years from the day you were born
You'll die by the hangman's hand
They're hanging Joe Bean this morning
For a shooting that he never did
He killed twenty men
By the time he was ten
He was an unruly kid
But they're hanging Joe Bean
For the one shooting
That he never did
See through the prison bars Joe Bean
See where the gallows stand
Just twenty short years from the day you were born
You'll die by the hangman's hand
Well your mother's at the Capitol City
Asking Governor Sims for a stay
And it's realy hard on her
'Cause she knows where you were
On that particular day
You were working, Joe Bean
Hard working
Robbing the Santa Fe
Well, the telegraph wires are humming
Here, the Governor's words come through
I can't set you free, 'cause 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
Happy Birthday, Joe Bean
Happy Birthday, Dear Joe
Happy Birthday, to you
				

[Verse 1: Both, Johnny Cash]
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 going to Jackson, I'm gonna mess around
Yeah, I'm goin' to Jackson
Look out Jackson town

[Verse 2: June Carter, Johnny Cash]
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
Yeah, go to Jackson; go comb your hair
Honey, I'm gonna snowball Jackson
See if I care

[Verse 3: Johnny Cash & June Carter]
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
'Cause I'm goin' to Jackson
"Goodbye," that's all she wrote

[Verse 4: June Carter]
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 scolded hound
With your tail tucked between your legs
Yeah, I'll go to Jackson, you big-talkin' man
And I'll be waitin' in Jackson, behind my Japan Fan

[Verse 5: Both]
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

[Outro: June Carter & Johnny Cash]
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm mhmmmmmmm mmmmmmmmmmmm
Well, we got married in a fever, hotter than a pepper sprout'
And we've been talkin' 'bout Jackson, ever since the fire went...
				

[Instrumental]
[Verse 1]
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 out 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 that daddy's so proud of him
And don't forget to give my love to Rose

[Verse 2]
Won't you 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
Because 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
Now 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 that daddy's so proud of him
And don't forget to give my love to Rose
				

[Verse 1]
On A Monday I Was Arrested (Uh Huh)
On A Tuesday They Locked Me In The Jail (Oh Boy)
On A Wednesday My Trial Was Attested
On A Thursday They Said Guilty And The Judge's Gavel Fell

[Chorus]
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

[Verse 2]
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

[Chorus]
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

[Chorus]
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
				

John Henry's Papy woke him up one midnight
He said before the sheriff comes I wanna tell you, listen boy
Said learn to ball a jack, learn to lay a track, learn to pick and shovel too, and
Take my hammer, it'll do anything you tell it to
John Hery's mammie had about a dozen babies, John Henry's papie told tale about a
Dozen times
The babies all got sick and when the doctor wanted money, he said i'll pay you quarter
At a time, startin' tomorow, that's the pay for a steel driver on this line
Then the section foreman said hey hammer swinger, i see you brought your own hammer
Boy, but what else can all those 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?)
I can i'll do anything you hire me to
Now ain't you something so high and mighty with your muscles, just go ahead pick
Up that hammer, pick up the hammer
He said get a rusty 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 steep nose hammer on a four foot switch panel, John Henry raised it back till
It touched his heels, then the spike went through the cross tie and it split it half
In two, 35 cents a day for driven steel
(Sweat sweat boy, sweat, you owe me two more swings)
I was born for driven steel
Well John Henry hammered in the mountain, he'd give a grunt and he'd give groan with
Every swing, the women folks for miles around, heard him and come down, to watch him
Make the cold steel ring, lord what a swinger, just listen to that cold steel ring
But the bad boss come up laughing at John Henry, said you full of vinegar now, but
You bout through, were gonna get a steam drill 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 four little brothers, and my baby sister's walking on her
Knees, did the lord say that machines outta take the place of living, and what's a
Subsitute 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 now, had thirty minutes to rest before
The bell, the mine boss hollered get up whoever you are and get a pick ax, give me
Enough coal to start another hill, and keep it burning, mine me enough to start another
Hill
John Henry said to his captain, a man ain't nothin but a man, but if you bring that
Steam drill round, i'll beat it fair and honest, i'll die with my hammer in my hand
But I'll be laughing, cuz you can't replace a steel driven man
There was a big crowd of people at the mountain, John Henry said to the steam drill
How is you, pardon me mister steam drill, I suppose you didn't hear me, I said how
You, well can you turn a jack, can you lay a track, can you pick and shovel too, listen
This hammer swingers talkin' to you
2000 people hollered go John Henry, then somebody hollered the mountain's caving
In, John Henry told the captain, tell the kind folks not to worry, that ain't nothin
But my hammer suckin' wind, keeps me breathing, a steel drivers muscle I intend
Captain tell the people move back further, I'm at the finish line and I ain't no
Drill, she's so far behind you ain't got the brains to quit it, when she blows up
She'll scatter cross the hills, lord lordy, when she blows up she'll scatter cross
The hills
Well John Henry had a little woman, i believe the lady's name was Polly Ann, yeah
That was his good woman, John Henry threw his hammer over his shoulder and went on
Home, he layed down to rest his weary back and early next morining he said come here
Polly Ann come here sugar, ya know I believe this is the first time I ever watched
The sun come up that i couldn't come up with it
Take my hammer Polly Ann and go to that rail road, swing that hammer like you seen
Me do it, and when your swinging with the lead men, they'll all know they'll all know
Your John Henry's woman, but tell them that's ain't all I 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
Their hats, the men do, when they come to the palce John Henrys laid, rests on his
Back, some say mornin steel driver you sure were a hammer swinger, then they go along
Pickin up speed, clikty clak, clikty clak, down there lies a steel driven man oh lord
Down there lies a steel driven man, down there lies a steel driven man oh lord, down
There lies a steel driven man
				

[Verse 1]
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 runs Mary
Hair of gold and lips like cherries
It's good to touch the green, green grass of home

[Verse 2]
The old house is still standing
Though the paint is cracked and dry
And there's that 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

[Chorus]
Yes, they'll all come to see me
Arms reaching, smiling sweetly
It's good to touch the green, green grass of home

[Verse 3]
Then I awake and look around me
To the cold gray walls that surround me
And then I realize I was only dreaming
For there's a guard, and a sad old padre
Arm in arm, I walk at daybreak
Again, I'll touch the green, green grass of home

[Chorus]
Yes, they'll all come to see me
In the shade of the old tree as they lay me
'Neath the green, green grass of home

[Spoken Outro]
Thank you very much
This next song was written by a man right here in Folsom Prison
And last night was the first time I've ever sung the song
Anyway, this song was written by our friend Glenn Shirley, and–
Um, hope we do your song justice, man
We're gonna do our best
				

[Chorus]
Inside the walls of prison my body may be
But my Lord has set my soul free

[Verse 1]
There's a grey stone 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 soul of many lost men
Now this grey stone chapel here at Folsom
Stands a hundred years old 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

[Chorus]
Inside the walls of prison my body may be
But my Lord has set my soul free

[Verse 2]
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 grey stone chapel
And I've thanked the Lord for helping me each day
Now this grey stone chapel here at Folsom
It has a touch of God's hand on every stone
It's a flower of light in a field of darkness
And it's given me the strength to carry on

[Chorus]
Inside the walls of prison my body may be
But my Lord has set my soul free