Date: 12 Sep 95 14:01:46 EDT
From: Scott Durham
Subject: FOLSOM PRISON BLUES
Song: FOLSOM PRISON BLUES
Performed by: JOHNNY CASH
Submitted by Scott Durham [email protected]
G
I HEAR THE TRAIN A COMIN, IT’S ROLLIN ROUND THE BEND,
I AIN’T SEEN THE SUNSHINE SINCE I DON’T KNOW WHEN.
C G
I’M STUCK IN FOLSOM PRISON AND TIME KEEPS DRAGGIN ON.
D7 G
BUT THE TRAIN KEEPS ROLLIN ON DOWN TO SAN ANTONE.
G
WHEN I WAS JUST A BABY MY MAMA TOLD ME, SON
ALWAYS BE A GOOD BOY, DON’T EVERY PLAY WITH GUNS.
C G
BUT I SHOT A MAN IN RENO JUST TO WATCH HIM DIE.
D7 G
WHEN I HEAR THAT WHISTLE BLOWIN I HANG MY HEAD AND CRY.
G
I BET THERE’S RICH FOLKS EATIN IN A FANCY DININ CAR,
THEY’RE PROB’LY DRINKIN COFFEE AND SMOKIN BIG CIGARS,
C G
BUT I KNOW I HAD IT COMIN, I KNOW I CAN’T BE FREE,
D7
BUT THOSE PEOPLE KEEP A MOVIN AND THAT’S WHAT
G
TORTURES ME.
G
WELL IF THEY FREED ME FROM THIS PRISON, IF THAT RAILROAD
TRAIN WAS MINE
I BET I’D MOVE A LITTLE FARTHER ON DOWN THE LINE.
C G
FAR FROM FOLSOM PRISON THAT’S WHERE I WANT TO STAY
D7 G
AND I’D LET THAT LONESOME WHISTLE BLOW MY BLUES AWAY.
From: [email protected]
Folsom Prison Blues by Johnny Cash
(from «The Songs of Johnny Cash»)
G
I hear the train a-comin’; it’s rollin’ ’round the bend,
G G7
And I ain’t seen the sunshine since I don’t know when,
C7 G
I’m stuck at Folsom Prison and time keeps draggin’ on.
D7 G
But that train keeps a-rollin’ on down to San Antone.
2. When I was just a baby, my momma 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.
3. I bet there’s rich folk eatin’in a fancy dining car.
They’re prob’ly drinkin’ coffee and smokin’ big cigars,
But I know I had it comin’, I know I can’t be free,
But those people keep a-movin’, and that’s what tortures me.
4. Well if they freed me from this prison, if that railroad train was mine,
I bet I’d move it all 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.
From: [email protected] (Trond J. Stroem)
I think Cash’ recording goes E — A — B7, otherwise this is correct, of course.
—
From: [email protected] (Kevin Colton)
Subject: TAB: Fulsom Prison Blues
Well no one has requested this but here are the riffs
From Johnny Cash’s «Fulsom Prison Blues». I’d like to
See tab/chords for any of his other songs, particularly
«Ring of Fire.» All mistakes are mine alone … Kevin
H = hammer
P = pull off
B = bend
(B7) = chord
INTRO and END …
E
B
G
D 1 1 Verse = E A B7
A 2 2 2 2 alternate pick / downstrum
E 3b4b3 0 ie. pick 5th / down /
Pick 6th / down
SOLO …
E 7 9p7 10 7 7 9p7 9b10b9
B 8h9 8h9
G x 2
D
A
E
E 7 6 5 5 5 5 9 5 12 11 12 11
B 5 5 5 5
G 6 6 6 6 6 6
D
A
E
E
B
G
D 0h2 2 2 2 0h2 2
A 2 0h2 2 0 1
E 0 0 0 0 4
E
B
G
D 1 1 1 1
A 2 (B7) (B7) 2 (B7) (B7) 0h2 2 2 1 0
E 2 2 2b3b2 0