The song remains a staple of live performances, frequently featured in touring shows like James Garner's Tribute to Johnny Cash and A Man Named Cash .
Despite its gritty realism, Johnny Cash had never been incarcerated when he wrote the song. He drafted the lyrics while stationed in Germany with the in the early 1950s after watching the film Inside the Walls of Folsom Prison . Johnny Cash - Folsom Prison Blues (Audio)
The melody and several lyrics were heavily inspired by the song "Crescent City Blues" by Gordon Jenkins. Following a later lawsuit, Cash paid Jenkins a settlement of approximately $75,000. The song remains a staple of live performances,
The success of the live album led to another legendary prison concert at San Quentin State Prison , where a young inmate named Merle Haggard was inspired by Cash to pursue a music career after his release. Where to Listen The melody and several lyrics were heavily inspired