Folsom Prison Review

This album is written by Johnny Cash, a native from Arkansas. He is a country singer who is known for his skills with the Classical guitar. In this album Johnny received a tape from an inmate. He liked it and used it in this to expresses all different kinds of emotions throughout this Album. This album was played in front of a prison audience in which they enjoyed.

The first song Folsom prison blues Is a fast song that expresses  Johnny’s concern in life, along with doing rebellious things throughout his younger days. This song is a pleasure to hear, especially for inmates. It resembles the sound of Elvis Presley and also covers the themes in which Elvis Presley mentions in his lyrics.The next song is Busted. It is a slow song with slow rhythm. A sorrowful song that talks about Johnny’s money problems. The lyrics talk about everyday problems of Southern United State’s citizens, which is the the

At number three is  Dark as a dungeon. johny talks about the hardships he has seen in his life. A man has to overcome a lot to be alive and successful. When a man is locked in a dungeon,(like the inmates in which he is performing in front of) he talks about a perspective of being locked away. A very depressing song in which is very emotional with the use of the guitar. I still miss someone is one of my favorite. Resembles a young man looking for a specific women. A strong attachment to a lady that  he has to find. True love is mentioned but true love isn’t specific in life. The use of the musical notes has a downgrading to resemble a broken heart. This song is a good one to hear.

Then  Cocaine blues talks about a man on a journey, involving drugs. Facing a jury because he killed his wife. Fast tempo song with the guitar. This song has strong lyrics that should not be heard by young people. This song is full of disappointment’s but is presented with enlightenment. Next is 25 minuets to go, fast movement song that is a continuous cont down throughout the song. Resembles the struggles and the highs of life throughout the song and 25 mins of life. The crowds reaction to this song was very pleasing to their ears. They errupted to this song because some of the inmates they can relate to this song.   

This song is what comes to mind as a classic country song. Orange blossom, new instruments used in this song like the harmonica. With solos in that instrument along with lyrics that explain a town on a dark and dreadful day. It is narrated by johnny, who sings lyrics are full of happy emotions. This song is completely different from the rest of the tracks in the album. The Black Veil, Is a song that is tales in a murder's perspective. A very dark and gloomy song that is depressing to hear. But at the same time he makes the song a positive thing to listen to with the lyrics being used. He mentions a love for a women that visit's his grave after he is dead. At number nine is Send a Picture of Mother.It is a very sad depressing song in which every prisoner experiences. Because in this song it expresses the feelings of not seeing loved ones. A inmate is asking a relative to send them family pictures. One of my least favorite isThe Wall. This song is a slowly presented. It expresses the feeling of a inmate doing time in prison and how slow time passes by. 

11. Dirty Old egg Suckin Dogg- This song talks about mans best friend (a dog). It talks about the ups and downs during any person's relationship with a dog. 

12. Flourished From The Bathroom Of Your Heart- This song talks about love of women. This song expresses the sorrow of loving a woman but she does not feel the same about you. Cash sings this song in a entreating way which makes the crowd laugh with his humorous lyrics. 

13. Joe Bean- This song goes back to the theme of being a prisoner. The man Joe Bean was actually hung before he performed this song. His lyrics express pity and at the same time harsh truth for this man. This song also has an entertaining tone to it. 

14.Jackson- this song involved a female singer. It talks about two people falling in love and getting married in Jackson. This is one of the best songs in my opinion because it is easy to tap along to and dance too. 

15. Give My Love To Rose- This song is about a man that is about to die and saying his last words. The lyrics are about a man talking about his family and is telling it to someone he is with. 

16.I Got Stripes-  This song is about a inmate being in prison and vein convicted. This song talks about the process of becoming an inmate. The chorus of the song is accompanied a female singer that really makes this song easier to sing along too.

17. The Legend of John Henry's Hammer- this song is about a story a young boy in a family. It talks about events that happen to him in his life. But an event that the reoccurs involves him using hammer to do work and labor.

18.Green, Green Grass of Home- Talks about a man returning home and seeing his family and friends. It presents the idea that there is no place like home.  It talks about charactoristics that occur to a man's mind when he has spent a long time away from home. 

19. Greystone Chapel- this song was written by a inmate at Folsom prison. This song talks about the living conditions at prison and how they use the chapel in it. It is used by many prisoners to escape mentally and become stronger with God during their time in prison. 

This album is one of the greatest to listen too. It is one of the first to relate to prisoners and how they feel while serving their conviction.