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Folsom Prison Blues

Johnny Cash

Text File

#----------------------------------PLEASE NOTE---------------------------------#
#This file is the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the #
#song. You may only use this file for private study, scholarship, or research. #
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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 75372.257@compuserve.com

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: kra9493@acf6.acf.nyu.edu

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: t.j.strom@ub.uio.no (Trond J. Stroem)

I think Cash' recording goes E - A - B7, otherwise this is correct, of course.
-- 

From: colton@bnr.ca (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