Introduction
Outlaw Legends Reignite a Classic: The Highwaymen – Folsom Prison Blues (American Outlaws: Live at Nassau Coliseum, 1990)
When four of country music’s most legendary voices come together to perform one of the genre’s most iconic songs, the result is nothing short of electric. In The Highwaymen – Folsom Prison Blues (American Outlaws: Live at Nassau Coliseum, 1990), we witness a rare moment where history, grit, and musical greatness collide on stage. This performance isn’t just a tribute to Johnny Cash—it’s a powerful gathering of spirits who helped define American country music for generations.
The Highwaymen—Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and Kris Kristofferson—were more than just individual stars. Together, they represented the soul of the outlaw movement, a raw and authentic thread in the fabric of country storytelling. In this live rendition of “Folsom Prison Blues,” recorded at the Nassau Coliseum in 1990, their chemistry and mutual respect are palpable. There’s a deep camaraderie in how they trade lines and share the spotlight, each bringing a distinct voice while honoring the legacy of a song that speaks to brokenness, consequence, and the hard edges of life.
Cash’s original “Folsom Prison Blues” debuted in the mid-1950s, but this live interpretation breathes new life into it. Jennings’ deep twang, Nelson’s smooth phrasing, and Kristofferson’s rugged vocals blend seamlessly with Cash’s unmistakable baritone. Together, they transform the performance into more than a nostalgia act—it becomes a testament to the enduring power of storytelling through song.
What’s most remarkable about The Highwaymen – Folsom Prison Blues (American Outlaws: Live at Nassau Coliseum, 1990) is the way it connects across generations. Older audiences, who grew up with the outlaws’ music, feel a sense of homecoming. Younger listeners discover the timeless resonance of lyrics that speak of regret, reality, and redemption. It’s not just a concert recording—it’s a snapshot of American music heritage performed by its most revered voices.
In a world that often changes too fast, performances like this remind us why certain songs, and certain artists, will never fade. They don’t just entertain—they endure.
Video
Lyrics
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’
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 blowin’
I hang my head and cry
I bet there’s rich folks eatin’
In a fancy dining car
They’re probably drinkin’ coffee
And smokin’ big cigars
But I know I had it comin’
I know I can’t be free
But those people keep a-movin’
And that’s what tortures me
Well, if they freed me from this prison
If that railroad train was mine
I bet I’d move out over a little
Farther 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