The weekly theme here at QRW is Secrets of (Un)Success. How about a creative kick from a dude that offers stories of bone-crushingly stupid and painful acts, stories of men so UNsuccessful they wound up in the clink?

Johnny Cash wore black before it was cool, broke all the country rules, and sang about people who have made some majorly shitty moves in their lives. Think about this classic of classics, and marvel in the story-telling ability of Cash. And as a nifty side note, think about the protagonist in the song, and know that no matter if you make some mistakes as a freelancer, writer, or general, um, person, there’s always something worse. At least you’re not this guy.

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.

Freakin Awesome. And I’ll never shoot a man in Reno just to watch him die now.

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