Johnny Cash’s “Prisom Blues”: An Acoustic Masterpiece

Johnny Cash’s “Prisom Blues” is an acoustic masterpiece. Written while Cash was in Folsom Prison, the song is a folk classic that has been covered by many artists. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at the history of the song and how it has affected popular music.

Introduction

When most people think of Johnny Cash, they think of his work with The Tennessee Three, the backing band he used for the majority of his career. The Tennessee Three was a tight, crackerjack outfit that specialized in a propulsive brand of rockabilly that was as indebted to country music as it was to the blues. But on Cash’s 1968 album At Folsom Prison, he stripped things down to their essentials, resulting in one of the most intimate and powerful albums of his career.

Prison blues had been a staple of Cash’s live shows for years, but on At Folsom Prison, he finally captures the raw emotion of those songs in the studio. Working with just his voice and acoustic guitar, Cash delivers gut-wrenching renditions of classics like “Cocaine Blues” and “25 Minutes to Go”. It’s a stunning showcase of his songwriting prowess and his mastery of delivering a song directly to the heart.

more than 50 years after its release, At Folsom Prison remains one of the high points of Cash’s expansive discography. It’s an essential listen for any fan of country music or Americana.

The Making of “Prisom Blues”

“Prisom Blues” is a song written and recorded by Johnny Cash. The song was written while Cash was in Folsom Prison, and it is based on his own experiences in prison. The song was recorded in 1968 and released as a single in 1969. It became a hit, reaching number three on the country charts. The song is considered to be one of Cash’s best and is considered an acoustic masterpiece.

The song’s conception

In the liner notes to his 2003 album Unearthed, Cash wrote of how he came to write the song. In early 1952, while serving in the Air Force, he was stationed in Landsberg, West Germany, as a Morse code intercept operator. bored one evening, he began composing a letter to his wife Vivian Liberto back home. When he could not find anything to say that would not get him into trouble, he began writing a song:[2]

I fell into a burning ring of fire
I went down, down, down
And the flames went higher
And it burns, burns, burns
The ring of fir-ee
The ru-u-un through my spi-i-ine
I go crazy when I hear a vi-o-lin
Prisom blues

The recording process

In January of 1955, a young musician named John R. Cash walked into the Sun Records studio in Memphis, Tennessee to record a song he had written called “Folsom Prison Blues.” Little did he know that this song would not only change his life, but also help shape the trajectory of American music.

“Folsom Prison Blues” was an instant hit, rocketing to #1 on the country music charts. The success of the song led to Cash being signed to a major label and embarking on a successful career that would span five decades.

Although “Folsom Prison Blues” was recorded using electric instruments, Cash always felt that the song would sound better with an acoustic arrangement. In 1968, he finally got his chance to record the song the way he wanted when he was asked to perform it at a concert at Folsom State Prison.

With only a few hours to prepare, Cash and his band hastily rehearsed an acoustic version of the song. The performance was electrifying, and the recording of it would go on to become one of the most iconic recordings in American music history.

The Lyrics of “Prisom Blues”

Some of the best songs are those that tell a story, and that’s exactly what “Prisom Blues” does. The song is about a man who is facing the reality of a life sentence in prison. The lyrics are written in a way that makes you feel the man’s pain and desperation.

The first verse

I hear the train a comin’, it’s rollin’ ’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’, all night long

The second verse

I keep thinkin’ ’bout my baby
And I can’t seem to shake
The blues that’s got a-hold of me
Since I awake
I watch the cars a-rollin’ by
All day long
And I just gotta get away
From this prisom ground

The third verse

In the third verse, Cash reflects on how his mind turns to thoughts of suicide while he’s in jail:

I hurt my head, and I’m feelin’ bad
I’m countin’ the days that I’ve been had
I’m wonderin’ where my baby gone
Please bring her back to me

I’m gonna jump off the county jail
I’m gonna shoot myself in my cell
I ain’t gonna live no more this way
Please bring her back to me

The Music of “Prisom Blues”

There are very few songs that can rival theacoustic mastery of Johnny Cash’s “Prisom Blues.” The song is a perfect blend of Cash’s deep, husky voice with the light, airy strumming of his guitar. It’s a song that instantly transports the listener to another place and time.

The opening riff

The opening riff of “Prisom Blues” is one of the most iconic and recognizable in all of popular music. It’s a simple, catchy little melody that instantly grabs your attention and never lets go. But what’s even more remarkable than the riff itself is the way it’s utilized in the song.

Cash doesn’t just play the riff once and then move on; he uses it as the foundation for the entire song, building upon it with each successive verse and chorus. The result is an acoustic masterpiece that perfectly captures the feelings of boredom, frustration, and despair that come with being incarcerated.

The chorus

The chorus of “Prisom Blues” is one of the most iconic and recognizable parts of the song. It is deceptively simple, with just a few chords and a catchy melody, but it is also incredibly powerful and emotive. The lyrics are both sad and hopeful, reflecting the experience of someone who is incarcerated.

The music of “Prisom Blues” has a raw, acoustic quality that perfectly suits the emotional content of the lyrics. Cash’s voice is rough and raw, conveying the pain and longing of someone who is powerless and trapped. The simple chord progression and melody create a sense of yearning and nostalgia, evoking the feeling of being homesick.

The chorus of “Prisom Blues” is a perfect example of how powerful simplicity can be in music. The rawness of the acoustic instruments and Cash’s voice combine to create an emotionally charged song that speaks to the human experience.

The solo

The song “Prisom Blues” is a Johnny Cash classic. It is a haunting and beautiful song that tells the story of a man in prison. The music of the song is simple, but effective. The solo is performed on an acoustic guitar, and it is one of the most memorable parts of the song.

The acoustic guitar solo in “Prisom Blues” is performed by Cash himself. It is a simple, but beautiful solo that uses a few basic chords. The solo starts with a minor chord, and then moves to a major chord. The major chord is held for a moment, before moving back to the minor chord. This pattern repeats for the rest of the solo.

The solo is made up of two parts: the verse and the chorus. The verse contains the story of the man in prison, while the chorus contains the words “I hear those train wheels a-hummin’, I ain’t never gonna be free.” These two parts combine to create a powerful and moving song.

The Legacy of “Prisom Blues”

“Prisom Blues” is a song written and performed by Johnny Cash. The song was released as a single in 1955 and became one of Cash’s most well-known songs. The song is an acoustic masterpiece and has been covered by many artists over the years.

The song’s influence

“Prisom Blues” is a song written and recorded by American musician Johnny Cash. The song was inspired by Cash’s own experience of being incarcerated, and it has subsequently become an anthem for prisoners and those who have been affected by the prison system. The song has been covered by a number of artists, including Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, and Willie Nelson.

The song’s place in Cash’s catalogue

“Prisom Blues” is often cited as one of Johnny Cash’s greatest songs, and it’s easy to see why. The song is a masterclass in acoustic guitar playing, with Cash’s signature style on full display. The song is also a perfect example of Cash’s ability to tell a story through his music, with the lyrics painting a picture of life in prison that is both hope and heart-wrenching.