Folsom Prison Blues; Johnny Cash
N 38° 41.554 W 121° 09.669
10S E 659922 N 4284265
"I'm stuck in Folsom Prison" - lyrics by Johnny Cash
Waymark Code: WMKNTY
Location: California, United States
Date Posted: 05/08/2014
Views: 4
“I'm stuck in Folsom prison, and time keeps draggin' on.”
– Lyrics from Folsom Prison Blues, by Johnny Cash.
Johnny Cash first took interest in Folsom State Prison while serving in the United States Air Force Security Service. In 1953, his unit watched Crane Wilbur's film Inside the Walls of Folsom Prison. The movie inspired Cash to write a song that reflected his perception of prison life. The result was "Folsom Prison Blues", Cash's second single on Sun Records. After its release, the song became popular among inmates, who would sometimes write to Cash, requesting him to perform at their prisons. Cash's first prison performance was at Huntsville State Prison in 1957. Satisfied by the favorable reception of the concert, he performed at several other prisons in the years leading up to the Folsom performance in 1968.
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There are plenty of photo opportunities around the prison. The Prison Road entrance has a stone wall with metal letters spelling out “Folsom State Prison.” There is a Prison Museum just down the road with a yard full of prison artifacts and a great view of the main gate. The guards will often help with taking pictures. Bring a pocket full of change, because, if you make a wrong turn, they only allow one phone call.