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Johnny Cash: Concert Behind Prison Walls
02/22/22 | 39m 42s | Rating: TV-PG
Linda Ronstadt and Roy Clark join the Man in Black at the Tennessee State Prison for a nationally televised live concert appearance from 1974, featuring the songs “Folsom Prison Blues,” “Hey Porter,” “Desperado,” “You're No Good,” “Shuckin' the Corn,” “A Boy Named Sue,” “Silver Threads and Golden Needles,” and more.
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Johnny Cash: Concert Behind Prison Walls
From Tennessee State Prison in Nashville, Tennessee... "A
Concert
Behind Prison Walls," starring Roy Clark... Linda Ronstadt. And now from the gymnasium of the Tennessee State Prison, "Behind Prison Walls," our special guest star -- Johnny Cash!
Cheers and applause
"Folsom Prison Blues" plays
Concert
Yeah! ♪ ♪ 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 ♪ Well, 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 Guitar! Bob Wootton!
Speaks indistinctly
Concert
♪ ♪
Shouts indistinctly
Concert
♪ ♪ Well, if they freed me from this prison ♪ ♪ If that railroad train was mine ♪ ♪ I bet I'd move it on 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 ♪
Song ends
Cheers and applause
Concert
[ "Sunday Morning Coming Down" plays ] ♪ ♪ Well, I woke up Sunday morning ♪ ♪ With no way to hold my head that didn't hurt ♪ ♪ And the beer I had for breakfast wasn't bad ♪ ♪ So I had one more for dessert ♪ ♪ Then I fumbled in my closet through my clothes and found my cleanest dirty shirt ♪ ♪ And then I washed my face and combed my hair ♪ ♪ Stumbled down the stairs to meet the day ♪ ♪ I'd smoked my mind the night before ♪ ♪ With cigarettes and songs that I'd been picking ♪ ♪ Then I lit my first and watched a small boy cussin' at a can that he was kickin' ♪ ♪ ♪ Then I crossed the empty street ♪ ♪ Caught the Sunday smell of someone's fryin' chicken ♪ ♪ ♪ And it took me back to somethin' ♪ ♪ That I'd lost somewhere or somehow along the way ♪ ♪ On a Sunday morning sidewalk ♪ I'm wishing, Lord, that I was stoned ♪ ♪ 'Cause there's somethin' about a Sunday ♪ ♪ That'll make your body feel alone ♪ ♪ There ain't nothing short of dyin' ♪ ♪ That's as lonesome as the sound ♪ ♪ Of a sleepin' city sidewalk ♪ And Sunday morning comin' down ♪ ♪ In the park I saw a daddy ♪ With a laughing little girl that he was swinging ♪ ♪ Then I stopped beside a Sunday school ♪ ♪ Listened to the songs that they were singin' ♪ ♪ Heard "Bringing in the Sheaves" ♪ ♪ Then I went on down the road ♪ And somewhere far away a lonely bell was ringin' ♪ ♪ And it echoed through the canyon ♪ ♪ Like a disappearin' dream of yesterday ♪ ♪ On a Sunday morning sidewalk ♪ I'm wishin', Lord, that I was stoned ♪ ♪ 'Cause there's somethin' 'bout a Sunday ♪ ♪ That'll make your body feel alone ♪ ♪ There ain't nothin' short of dyin' ♪ ♪ That's as lonesome as the sound ♪ ♪ Of a sleepin' city sidewalk ♪ And Sunday morning comin' down ♪
Finale plays
Song ends
Cheers and applause
Concert
I've learned one thing, that when a man is that rock bottom, when there's no place else he can go, except up, that the only thing that's really important in this world to him is that somebody somewhere cares. And with that in mind, I wrote this song about something that really happened to a 16-year-old boy in the state of Virginia. It's called "Jacob Green."
"Jacob Green" plays
Concert
♪ ♪ Jacob Green got busted for possession ♪ ♪ Next morning early, he appeared in court ♪ ♪ But he was sent to jail to wait ♪ ♪ To be tried at some later date ♪ ♪ Next morning early ♪ Came a sad report ♪ At the jail they took away his clothes to shame him ♪ ♪ And to make sure Jacob Green had no pride left ♪ ♪ They cut off all his hair ♪ Today they found him hanging there ♪ ♪ Afraid to face the day, he killed himself ♪ ♪ It happened yesterday ♪ And if you turned your head away ♪ ♪ Somewhere in some dirty hole ♪ That scene will be rerun ♪ Not only Jacob Green ♪ But many more you've never seen ♪ ♪ It could be someone that you love gets done ♪ ♪ Like Jacob Green got done ♪ Jacob's father hired a team of lawyers ♪ ♪ Inspections and long inquiries were held ♪ ♪ The sheriff then retired ♪ The papers said two guards were fired ♪ ♪ They put a brand-new coat of paint on Jacob's cell ♪ ♪ But like a tomb that looks so bright and shiny ♪ ♪ Inside you'll find corruption never seen ♪ ♪ And somewhere out there tonight ♪ ♪ In a dirty hole without a light ♪ ♪ They'll be locking up another Jacob Green ♪ ♪ It happened yesterday ♪ And if you turned your head away ♪ ♪ Somewhere in some dirty hole that scene will be rerun ♪ ♪ Not only Jacob Green, but many more you've never seen ♪ ♪ It could be someone that you love gets done ♪ ♪ Like Jacob Green got done ♪ It could be someone that you love gets done ♪ ♪ Like Jacob Green got done
Finale plays
Song ends
Cheers and applause
Concert
Now here's Roy Clark! I appreciate it. One nail in the house, and I hung on it.
Laughter
Concert
♪ Hey, where were you last Saturday night? ♪
Bluesy guitar riff
Concert
♪ ♪ While I was lyin' in jail?
Bluesy guitar riff
Concert
♪ You was out walkin' up and down the road ♪ [ Guitar strings imitate footsteps ]
Laughter
Concert
♪ With another man
Bluesy guitar riff
Concert
♪ You wouldn't even go my bail
Bluegrass music plays
Concert
♪ ♪ Roll in my sweet baby's arms ♪ Roll in my sweet baby's arms ♪ I'm gonna lay around the shack ♪ ♪ Till the mail train comes back ♪ ♪ Then I'll roll in my sweet baby's arms ♪ ♪ I ain't gonna work on the railroad ♪ ♪ I ain't gonna work on the farm ♪ ♪ I'm gonna lay around the shack ♪ ♪ Till the mail train comes back ♪ ♪ Then I'll roll in my sweet baby's arms ♪ ♪ Roll in my sweet baby's arms ♪ Roll in my sweet baby's arms ♪ I'm gonna lay around the shack ♪ ♪ Till the mail train comes back ♪ ♪ Then I'll roll in my sweet baby's arms ♪ I hear you!
Instrumental solo
Concert
♪
Applause
Concert
♪ ♪ Your parents, they don't like me ♪ ♪ They drove me away from your door ♪ ♪ If I had my life to live over ♪ ♪ I'd never go there anymore ♪ Roll in my sweet baby's arms ♪ Roll in my sweet baby's arms ♪ I'm gonna lay around the shack ♪ ♪ Till the mail train comes back ♪ ♪ Then I'll roll in my sweet baby's arms ♪
Finale plays
Song ends
Cheers and applause
Concert
Thank you.
"Desperado" plays
Concert
♪ A lovely lady -- Miss Linda Ronstadt.
Applause
Concert
♪ Desperado ♪ Why don't you come to your senses? ♪ ♪ You been out ridin' fences for so long now ♪ ♪ Oh, you're a hard one ♪ But I know you got your reasons ♪ ♪ These things that are pleasin' you ♪ ♪ Can hurt you somehow ♪ Don't you draw the Queen of Diamonds, boy ♪ ♪ She'll beat you if she's able ♪ ♪ The Queen of Hearts is always your best bet ♪ ♪ Well, it seems to me some fine things ♪ ♪ Have been laid upon your table ♪ ♪ But you only want the ones that you can't get ♪ ♪ Desperado ♪ Oh, you ain't gettin' no younger ♪ ♪ Your pain and your hunger ♪ Are drivin' you home ♪ And freedom, oh, freedom ♪ Well, that's just some people talkin' ♪ ♪ Your prison is walking through this world all alone ♪ ♪ Don't your feet get cold in the wintertime? ♪ ♪ The sky won't snow, and the sun won't shine ♪ ♪ It's hard to tell the nighttime from the day ♪ ♪ You're losin' all your highs and lows ♪ ♪ Ain't it funny how the feeling goes away? ♪ ♪ ♪ Desperado ♪ Why don't you come to your senses?
♪ ♪ Come down from your fences ♪ And open the gate ♪ It may be raining ♪ Raining ♪ But there's a rainbow above you ♪ ♪ You better let somebody love you ♪ ♪ Let somebody love you ♪ You better let somebody love you ♪ ♪ Before it's too ♪ Late ♪ Desperado ♪ Ooh
Applause
"You're No Good" plays
Concert
♪ ♪ Feelin' better ♪ Now that we're through ♪ Feelin' better ♪ 'Cause I'm over you ♪ I learned my lesson ♪ It left a scar ♪ Now I see how you really are ♪ You're no good ♪ You're no good ♪ You're no good ♪ Baby, you're no good ♪ I'm gonna say it again ♪ You're no good ♪ You're no good ♪ You're no good ♪ Baby, you're no good ♪ I broke a heart ♪ That's gentle and true ♪ Well, I broke a heart over someone like you ♪ ♪ I'll beg his forgiveness on bended knee ♪ ♪ I wouldn't blame him if he said to me ♪ ♪ You're no good ♪ You're no good ♪ You're no good ♪ Baby, you're no good ♪ I'm gonna say it again ♪ You're no good ♪ You're no good ♪ You're no good ♪ Baby, you're no good
Instrumental solo
Concert
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I'm tellin' you now, baby ♪ And I'm going my way ♪ Forget about you, baby ♪ 'Cause I'm leavin' to stay ♪ You're no good ♪ You're no good ♪ You're no good ♪ Baby, you're no good ♪ I'm gonna say it again ♪ You're no good ♪ You're no good ♪ You're no good ♪ Baby, you're no good ♪ Oh, oh, no ♪ You're no good ♪ You're no good ♪ You're no good ♪ Baby, you're no ♪ Good
Finale plays
Song ends
Applause
Concert
I'd like to thank my coach and the rest of the team for this award.
Light laughter
Concert
It's not an award, it's a banjo. I bet you knew that right off. I had a pretty good suspicion my own self. Buck and I would like to do a little thing, if we may, called "Shucking the Corn." Right.
Bluegrass music plays
Concert
♪
Applause
Concert
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪
Applause
Concert
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪
Finale plays
Song ends
Cheers and applause
"Love Has No Pride" plays
Concert
♪ Gentlemen, Miss Linda Ronstadt.
Applause
Concert
♪ I've had bad dreams too many times ♪ ♪ To think that they don't mean much anymore ♪ ♪ And fine times have gone and left my sad home ♪ ♪ And the friends who once cared just walk out my door ♪ ♪ But love has no pride when I call out your name ♪ ♪ And love has no pride when there's no one to blame ♪ ♪ But I'd give anything to see you again ♪ ♪ ♪ I've been alone too many nights ♪ ♪ To think that you could come back again ♪ ♪ I've heard you talk ♪ She's crazy to stay ♪ But this love hurts me so ♪ I don't care what you say ♪ But love has no pride ♪ When I call out your name ♪ And love has no pride ♪ When there's no one to blame ♪ But I'd give anything ♪ To see you again ♪ ♪ If I could buy your love ♪ Then I'd surely try, my friend ♪ ♪ And if I could pray ♪ My prayers would never end ♪ But if you want me to beg ♪ I'll fall down on my knees ♪ And ask you to come back ♪ I'd be pleading for you to come back ♪ ♪ I'd beg for you to come back to me ♪ ♪ ♪ And love has no pride when I call out your name ♪ ♪ And love has no pride when there's no one but myself to blame ♪ ♪ But I'd give anything ♪ To see you again ♪ Yes, I'd give anything ♪ To see you again ♪ Whoa ♪ Oh ♪ Ohh ♪ Whoo
Song ends
Cheers and applause
Concert
[ "Silver Threads and Golden Needles" plays ] ♪ I don't want your lonely mansion with a tear in every room ♪ ♪ All I want's the love you promised beneath the haloed moon ♪ ♪ But you think I should be happy with your money and your name ♪ ♪ And hide myself in sorrow while you play your cheating game ♪ ♪ Silver threads and golden needles ♪ ♪ Cannot mend this heart of mine ♪ ♪ And I dare not drown my sorrow in the warm glow of your wine ♪ ♪ You can't buy my love with money ♪ ♪ 'Cause I never was that kind ♪ Silver threads and golden needles ♪ ♪ Cannot mend this heart of mine ♪ Whoo!
Instrumental solo
Concert
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Silver threads and golden needles ♪ ♪ Cannot mend this heart of mine ♪ ♪ And I dare not drown my sorrow in the warm glow of your wine ♪ ♪ You can't buy my love with money ♪ ♪ 'Cause I never was that kind ♪ Silver threads and golden needles ♪ ♪ Cannot mend this heart of mine ♪ ♪ Silver threads and golden needles ♪ ♪ Cannot mend ♪ This heart of mine
Finale plays
Song ends
Cheers and applause
"Hey, Porter" plays
Concert
The Man in Black -- Johnny Cash! ♪ ♪ Hey, Porter ♪ Hey, Porter ♪ Would you tell me the time? ♪ How much longer will it be till we cross that Mason-Dixon Line? ♪ ♪ When we hit Dixie, will you tell that engineer to ring his bell ♪ ♪ And ask everybody that ain't asleep to stand right up and yell?
♪ ♪ Hey, Porter ♪ Hey, Porter ♪ What time did you say? ♪ How much longer will it be till I can see the light of day? ♪ ♪ When we hit Dixie, will you tell that engineer to ring his bell ♪ ♪ And ask everybody that ain't asleep to stand right up and yell? ♪ Guitar now -- Bob Wootton.
Guitar solo
Applause
Concert
Whoo! ♪ Yee-haw! ♪ ♪ Hey, Porter ♪ Hey, Porter ♪ Please open up the door ♪ When they stop the train, I'm gonna get off first ♪ ♪ 'Cause I can't wait no more ♪ Tell that engineer I said thanks a lot ♪ ♪ And I didn't mind the fare ♪ I'm gonna set my feet on Southern soil ♪ ♪ And breathe that Southern air ♪ Whoo!
"Wreck Of The Old 97" plays
Concert
♪ Whoo! ♪ Whoo-whoo! ♪ ♪ Well, they gave him his orders at Monroe, Virginia ♪ ♪ Said, "Steve, you're way behind time ♪ ♪ This is not 38 ♪ This is Ol' 97 ♪ Put her into Spencer on time" ♪ ♪ And then he turned around and said to his big, greasy fireman ♪ ♪ "Shovel on a little more coal ♪ ♪ And when we cross that White Oak Mountain ♪ ♪ Watch Ol' 97 roll" Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Carl Perkins.
Cheers and applause
Concert
Whoo! ♪ ♪ And then a telegram came to Washington Station ♪ ♪ This is what it said ♪ It said, "That brave engineer that run Ol 97 ♪ ♪ Is lyin' down in Danville dead" ♪ ♪ Oh, boy Whoo! [ "Orange Blossom Special" plays ]
Harmonica solo
Concert
♪ ♪ Hey, now look a-yonder comin' ♪ ♪ Comin' down that railroad track ♪ ♪ Hey, now look a-yonder comin' ♪ ♪ Comin' down that railroad track ♪ ♪ That's that Orange Blossom Special ♪ ♪ Bringin' my baby back
Harmonica solo
Concert
♪
Applause
Concert
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I'm going down to Florida ♪ Gonna get that bit of sand in my shoes ♪ ♪ I may go to California ♪ And get some sand in my shoes ♪ ♪ Ridin' that Orange Blossom Special ♪ ♪ And lose these New York blues ♪
Harmonica solo
Concert
♪
Applause
Fiddle solo
Concert
Tommy Williams! ♪
Harmonica solo
Concert
♪ Well, you see, I was hangin' around the switchyards of New York City with a bunch of other hobos, minding my own business, like I always do, when a man with a badge come up to me, and he says, "Hey, boy, what are you hangin' around here for?" And I said, "For whatever's goin' around, I'll have some." ♪
Applause
Concert
He said, "You a smart aleck, ain't you, boy?" And I says, "No, sir, I'm just hungry." And he said, "You actin' like a smart aleck," and I said, "That's how I act when I get hungry." He said, "I wish you'd get enough nourishment in yourself to get out of New York City." ♪ I said, "I don't care if I do-die-do-die-do-die-do-die- do-die-do-die" ♪
Applause
Concert
♪ Hey, you talk about a-ramblin' ♪ ♪ She's the fastest train on the line ♪ ♪ Hey, you talk about a-ramblin' ♪ ♪ She's the fastest train on the line ♪ ♪ That's that Orange Blossom Special ♪ ♪ Rollin' down the seaboard line ♪
Harmonica solo
Concert
♪
Applause
Concert
♪
Finale plays
Song ends
Applause
Concert
Thank you.
"A Boy Named Sue" plays
Concert
♪ Well, my daddy left home when I was 3 ♪ ♪ He didn't leave very much to my ma and me ♪ ♪ Just this old guitar and an empty bottle of booze ♪ ♪ Now, I don't blame him 'cause he run and hid ♪ ♪ But the meanest thing that my daddy ever did ♪ ♪ Was before he left, he went and named me "Sue" ♪ ♪ Well, he must of thought that is was quite a joke ♪ ♪ And it got a lot of laughs from lots of folk ♪ ♪ It seems I had to fight my whole life through ♪ ♪ Some gal would giggle, and I'd turn red ♪ ♪ And some guy would laugh, and I'd bust his head ♪ ♪ I tell ya, life ain't easy for a boy named Sue ♪ ♪ But I grew up quick, and I grew up mean ♪ ♪ My fist got hard, and my wits got keen ♪ ♪ And I roamed from town to town to hide my shame ♪ ♪ But I made me a vow to the moon and stars ♪ ♪ That I'd search the honky-tonks and bars ♪ ♪ And kill that man that give me that awful name ♪ ♪ Well, it was Gatlinburg in mid-July ♪ ♪ And I just hit town, and my throat was dry ♪ ♪ I thought I'd stop and have myself a brew ♪ ♪ At an old saloon on a street of mud ♪ ♪ And there at a table, dealing stud ♪ ♪ Sat the dirty, mangy dog that named me "Sue" ♪ ♪ Well, I knew that snake was my own sweet dad ♪ ♪ From a worn-out picture that my mother had ♪ ♪ And I knew that scar on his cheek and his evil eye ♪ ♪ He was big and bent and gray and old ♪ ♪ And I looked at him, and my blood ran cold ♪ ♪ And I said, "My name is Sue ♪ How do you do?! ♪ Now you're gonna die!" That's what I told him. ♪ Well, I hit him hard right between the eyes ♪ ♪ And he went down, but to my surprise ♪ ♪ He come up with a knife and cut off a piece of my ear ♪ ♪ Then I busted a chair right across his teeth ♪ ♪ And we crashed through the walls and into the streets ♪ ♪ Kicking and a-gouging in the mud and the blood and the beer ♪ ♪ Well, I tell ya, I've fought tougher men ♪ ♪ But I really can't remember when ♪ ♪ He kicked like a mule, and he bit like a crocodile ♪ ♪ Well, I heard him laugh, and then I heard him cuss ♪ ♪ And he reached for his gun, but I pulled mine first ♪ ♪ And he stood there lookin' at me, and I saw him smile ♪ ♪ And he said, "Son, this world is rough ♪ ♪ And if a man's gonna make it, he's gotta be tough ♪ ♪ I know I wouldn't be there to help you along ♪ ♪ So I give you that name, and I said goodbye ♪ ♪ I knew you'd have to get tough or die ♪ ♪ It's the name that helped to make you strong ♪ ♪ He said, "Now you just fought one hell of a fight ♪ ♪ And I know you hate me, and you got the right ♪ ♪ To kill me now, and I wouldn't blame you if you do ♪ ♪ But you ought to thank me, before I die ♪ ♪ For the gravel in your gut and the spit in your eye ♪ ♪ 'Cause I'm the son of a... that named you 'Sue'" ♪ What could I do?
♪ Well, I got all choked up, and I threw down my gun ♪ ♪ I called him my pa, and he called me his son ♪ ♪ I come away with a different point of view ♪ ♪ And I think about him, now and then ♪ ♪ Every time I try, and every time I win ♪ And if I ever have a -- Well, if I ever have a boy, I'll name him Frank or George or Bill or Tom or anything but Sue! I don't want him going around bein' called Sue all his life! That's a horrible thing to do to a boy!
Shouts indistinctly
Concert
To name a boy Sue.
Applause
Concert
♪ On behalf of Jim Owens Productions and and Commonwealth Advertising, this is Bill Turner, thanking the authorities and especially the inmates at the Tennessee State Prison for their assistance in making this program possible. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪
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