Folsom Prison Blues

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Lore & Background

The inspiration struck Cash while he was serving in the United States Air Force in Landsberg, Bavaria. He watched the movie *Inside the Walls of Folsom Prison* (1951), which sparked the idea for the song. Sitting with a pen in hand, Cash tried to conceive the worst possible reason for one person to kill another, resulting in the famous line: "But I shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die." Although he wrote the lyrics himself, the melody faced legal challenges; it was accused of being taken from Gordon Jenkins's 1953 concept album *Seven Dreams*, specifically the track "Crescent City Blues." Jenkins was not credited on the original Sun Records release. In the early 1970s, after the song became a hit, Cash settled a lawsuit by paying Jenkins approximately $75,000. When photographer Jim Marshall questioned why the character served time in California for a crime committed in Nevada, Cash simply replied, "That's called poetic license."

In Their Own Story

The performance at Folsom State Prison on January 13, 1968, transformed the song from a studio recording into a live event with raw energy. The set began with Cash greeting the inmates with his trademark introduction: "Hello, I'm Johnny Cash." This version was more up-tempo than the original Sun recording and featured W.S. Holland on drums alongside Luther Perkins and Marshall Grant. While the audience cheered wildly following the line about shooting a man in Reno, prisoners avoided cheering at Cash's comments regarding prison conditions to fear reprisal from guards. Some of the cheering heard on the final album was added during post-production. The performance captured a unique dynamic where the inmates' reactions became part of the music itself, distinguishing this version from all previous recordings.

Reader's Guide

For listeners exploring the history of "Folsom Prison Blues," it is essential to distinguish between two primary versions: the 1955 studio original and the 1968 live recording. The original was recorded on July 30, 1955, at Sun Studio in Memphis with producer Sam Phillips. Uniquely, there was no drummer; Cash replicated a snare sound by inserting a piece of paper under his guitar strings to strum the rhythm. Released as a single with "So Doggone Lonesome," it reached number four on the Billboard C&W Best Sellers chart in early 1956. The live version, recorded for *At Folsom Prison*, topped the country singles chart and reached number 32 on the Hot 100 in 1968. It won Cash his first of four Grammy Awards for Best Country Vocal Performance, Male, at the 11th Annual ceremony. Both versions are historically significant, with the original inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2001.

Did You Know?

• Cash wrote the line "I shot a man in Reno" by trying to think of the worst possible reason for killing someone.
• The cheering on the live version after the Reno line was real and not added in post-production; the prisoners cheered loudly, and contrary to some myths, there was no fear of guard reprisal.
• Cash paid Gordon Jenkins a settlement of approximately $75,000 in the early 1970s after Jenkins sued over the melody borrowed from "Crescent City Blues."
• When asked why the character served time in California for a crime in Nevada, Cash replied simply, "That's called poetic license."

Origins and Composition

Johnny Cash penned 'Folsom Prison Blues' in 1953 while stationed with the United States Air Force in Landsberg, Bavaria. His creative spark ignited after viewing the film Inside the Walls of Folsom Prison, which depicted life behind bars. Seeking to craft a narrative about incarceration, Cash famously struggled to conceive a motive for murder so he could write the song's most notorious line: 'But I shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die.' He later explained that this was simply the worst reason he could imagine for taking a life. Although the lyrics were original, the melody faced legal scrutiny; Cash was accused of borrowing from Gordon Jenkins' 1953 track 'Crescent City Blues.' Jenkins received no credit on the initial Sun Records release, but following a lawsuit in the early 1970s, Cash settled for approximately $75,000. When questioned about the geographical inconsistency of shooting someone in Nevada and serving time in California, Cash simply attributed it to poetic license.

The 1955 Studio Session

Recorded on July 30, 1955, at Sun Studio in Memphis, Tennessee, the original version of the song was produced by Sam Phillips. The session featured a minimal lineup: Cash on vocals and guitar, Luther Perkins on lead guitar, and Marshall Grant on bass. Notably, there was no drummer present. To achieve a percussive snare sound without a kit, Cash employed a unique technique where he placed a piece of paper beneath his guitar strings to create a rhythmic snap while strumming. This innovative approach helped define the track's distinctive blend of country, rockabilly, and early rock and roll sounds. Released as a single paired with 'So Doggone Lonesome,' the song quickly gained traction, reaching number four on the Billboard C&W Best Sellers chart by early 1956. It was subsequently included on Cash's debut album in 1957 and later appeared on the compilation All Aboard the Blue Train. The recording's historical significance was cemented when it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2001.

The Iconic 1968 Live Performance

On January 13, 1968, Cash brought his signature song to life inside California's Folsom State Prison, an event that would redefine his career. This performance opened the concert with his trademark greeting and was captured for the live album At Folsom Prison. Unlike the slower studio original, this rendition was more up-tempo and featured a full band including W.S. Holland on drums alongside Perkins and Grant. The atmosphere was electric; however, reports suggest that while the audience cheered wildly after the line about shooting in Reno, prisoners remained silent during Cash's comments regarding prison conditions to avoid guard reprisal. Post-production editing later enhanced the cheering sounds for the final release. This live version became a massive commercial success, topping the country charts and reaching number 32 on the Billboard Hot 100. Its artistic impact was recognized at the 1969 Grammy Awards, where it won Best Country Vocal Performance, Male, marking Cash's first of four such victories.

Legacy and Cultural Impact

Decades after its release, 'Folsom Prison Blues' remains a cornerstone of American music history. In June 2014, Rolling Stone ranked the track as the 51st greatest country song of all time, while Pitchfork Media honored the 1968 live version as the eighth best song of the 1960s. The song has permeated popular culture extensively, appearing in diverse media such as the opening sequence of James Gunn's film *The Suicide Squad* (2021) and serving as a title reference for Season two, episode 19 of *Supernatural*. It was also featured in the video game *Mafia 3* and utilized in season two, episode four of *Cold Case*. Other artists have acknowledged its influence; George Jones referenced the song in his 1985 single "Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes" with the lines "A Man In Black" and "Folsom Prison Blues." Cover versions by artists like Sawyer Hill continue to keep the melody alive, ensuring that the story of the Reno shooting remains a powerful symbol within the folk and prison song traditions.