Folsom Prison Blues
Flatt And Scruggs · Other Songs - Flatt And Scruggs
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
[ ac.guitar - banjo ]I bet there's rich folks eatin'
from a fancy dining car
They're probably drinkin' coffee and smokin' big cigars
Well I know I had it comin' I know I can't be free
But those people keep on movin' and that's what tortures me
[ ac.guitar - dobro ]Well if they freed me from this
prison if this 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
Folsom Prison Blues
Flatt and Scruggs' 1969 recording of 'Folsom Prison Blues' stands as a definitive acoustic country classic, blending Bill Monroe's bluegrass instrumentation with Hank Williams' melancholic songwriting. The track captures the weary spirit of a former convict reflecting on lost love and the harsh realities of incarceration, delivered with a raw, unadorned vocal style that became a signature of the duo. Released during a pivotal era for outlaw country, the song transcends its prison theme to explore universal feelings of isolation and longing. Its enduring popularity stems from the authentic performance and the timeless narrative, cementing it as an essential piece in the American roots music canon.