I HEAR THE TRAIN A COMIN´ IT´S ROLLING 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´ ON DOWN TO SAN ANTONE
 
WHEN I WAS JUST A BABY MY MAMA 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 BLOWING I HANG MY HEAD AND CRY
 
I BET THERE´S RICH FOLKS EATING IN A FANCY DINING CAR
THEY´RE PROBABLY DRINKIN´ COFFEE AND SMOKING BIG CIGARS
WELL I KNOW I HAD IT COMING I KNOW I CAN´T BE FREE
BUT THOSE PEOPLE KEEP A MOVIN´ AND THAT´S WHAT TORTURES ME
 
WELL IF THEY´D FREE ME FROM THIS PRISON, IF THAT RAILROAD TRAIN WAS MINE
I BET I´D MOVE IT OVER A LITTLE FURTHER 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