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Christian Roach's List: Johnny Cash vs Gordon Jenkins LawSuit

    • Johnny Cash vs Gordon Jenkins
       
        This particular case hit the courts, but was settled out of court. The original song in question was recorded on a concept album called Seven Dreams, the song in question was part of the ‘Second Dream: The Conductor”. When the lyrics to the two songs are compared side by side, there is no question that they are kissing cousins. Though Johnny Cash’s version is more fine tuned and shows more experienced talent, some of the lines are word for word and some of them have a word or two difference. It took fifteen years, from the release date of Johnny Cash’s version, for Gordon Jenkins, the original song. owner to sue. The 1968 out of court settlement approached the hundred thousand mark.
    • Gordon Jenkins vs Johnny Cash, 1968 

       Several lines of Cash’s "Folsom Prison Blues" were "borrowed" from an earlier Gordon Jenkins composition entitled "Second Dream". Mr. Jenkins sued, and Johnny Cash settled out of court for around $100,000.00.
  • Aug 22, 13

    "Folsom Prison Blues"

    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..

    Soooey!

    I bet there's rich folks eating from 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 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.....

    • "Folsom Prison Blues"
        
        
       <!-- start of lyrics --> 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..
       
       Soooey!
       
       I bet there's rich folks eating from 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 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..... <!-- end of lyrics --> 
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