Folsom Prison Blues – English Lyrics

• By: Johnny Cash

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the somber world of Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues," a powerful narrative that immerses you in the life of an inmate. Through vivid imagery and heartfelt emotion, this classic country tune provides a unique opportunity to learn about themes of regret, longing, and the human condition, all while experiencing Cash's signature sound.

[English]

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 blowin', 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 on 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

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
train /treɪn/ A1	noun - a series of connected railway carriages or railroad cars verb - to teach or drill (a person or animal) a particular skill or type of behavior.
sunshine /ˈsʌnʃaɪn/ A1	noun - the light from the sun
prison /ˈprɪzən/ A1	noun - a building in which people are legally held as a punishment for a crime they have committed or while awaiting trial
time /taɪm/ A1	noun - the measured or measurable period during which an action, process, or condition exists or continues; duration.
baby /ˈbeɪbi/ A1	noun - a very young child
boy /bɔɪ/ A1	noun - a male child or young man
guns /ɡʌnz/ A2	noun - a weapon incorporating a metal tube from which bullets, shells, or other missiles are propelled by the explosive force of gunpowder or other substances.
man /mæn/ A1	noun - an adult male human being
cry /kraɪ/ A1	verb - shed tears, typically as an expression of distress, pain, or unhappiness. noun - a loud expression of pain or sorrow.
eat /iːt/ A1	verb - take (food) into the mouth and chew and swallow it.
coffee /ˈkɒfi/ A1	noun - a drink made from roasted coffee beans, typically served hot.
smoking /ˈsməʊkɪŋ/ A2	verb - the act of inhaling and exhaling the smoke of tobacco or a drug.
people /ˈpiːpl/ A1	noun - human beings in general or considered collectively.
prison /ˈprɪzən/ A1	noun - a building in which people are legally held as a punishment for a crime they have committed or while awaiting trial.
whistle /ˈwɪsl/ A1	noun - a clear, high-pitched sound made by forcing breath through a small hole or through the lips. verb - make a clear, high-pitched sound by forcing breath through a small hole or through the lips.
blues /bluːz/ B1	noun - a type of music of US black origin, characterized by its melancholy sound and the use of blue notes. noun - a state of depression or unhappiness.

Key Grammar Structures

• I hear the train a comin', it's rolling round the bend

  ➔ Present Continuous Tense

  ➔ The phrase 'I hear the train a comin'' uses the present continuous tense to describe an action happening now. 'It's rolling' also emphasizes ongoing action.

• When I was just a baby, my mama told me 'son'

  ➔ Past Simple Tense

  ➔ The phrase 'When I was just a baby' uses the past simple tense to describe a completed action in the past. 'Told' also indicates a past action.

• But I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die

  ➔ Past Simple Tense with Purpose

  ➔ The phrase 'I shot a man' uses the past simple tense, and 'just to watch him die' expresses the purpose of the action.

• I know I had it coming, I know I can't be free

  ➔ Present Simple Tense with Emphasis

  ➔ The phrases 'I know I had it coming' and 'I know I can't be free' use the present simple tense with emphasis to express certainty.

• If they freed me from this prison

  ➔ Second Conditional

  ➔ The phrase 'If they freed me' uses the second conditional to express a hypothetical situation in the present or future.