Country Music
“San Quentin” was recorded live from inside the San Quintin prison by Johnny Cash in 1969. Johnny Cash was an avid prison reform advocate. He believed it was his duty to use his fame to bring attention and better treatment to incarcerated people after having been incarcerated seven times for misdemeanor charges.
In “San Quentin,” Johnny Cash takes on the view point of an inmate in San Quintin Prison. He begins his piece by singing “I've seen 'em come and go and I've seen them die. And long ago I stopped askin' why,” which points to the injustices that inmates witness within prisons. This includes senseless deaths and seemingly unjust incarcerations. He goes on to describe the damage experienced by inmates in prisons and calls for congress to realize the horrors prisons are causing people, “You've cut me and have scarred me thru an' thru. And I'll walk out a wiser weaker man; Mister Congressman why can't you understand.” Cash finishes the piece by condemning San Quentin Prison to Hell and highlighting the ineffectiveness of the entire institution. “San Quentin” is important to the prison reform movement because it brought national attention to a group without a voice during the pro-human rights era of the 1960s. Cash’s song effectively transmits the experience of the prisoner while also calling on the national legislatures to help those behind bars. |
San Quentin by Johnny Cash
At San Quentin (1969) Lyrics San Quentin, you've been livin' hell to me You've hosted me since nineteen sixty three I've seen 'em come and go and I've seen them die And long ago I stopped askin' why San Quentin, I hate every inch of you.You've cut me and have scarred me thru an' thru. And I'll walk out a wiser weaker man; Mister Congressman why can't you understand. San Quentin, what good do you think you do? Do you think I'll be different when you're through? You bent my heart and mind and you may my soul, And your stone walls turn my blood a little cold. San Quentin, may you rot and burn in hell. May your walls fall and may I live to tell. May all the world forget you ever stood. And may all the world regret you did no good. San Quentin, you've been livin' hell to me. |
blues music
Furry Lewis was a blues musician born in Greenwood, Mississippi in 1893. He is known for keeping with the tradition of blues music by highlighting the struggles, sorrows, and joys of the working class man. In “Judge Harsh Blues,” Furry points out the racial inequality and justice system disparity that dominated the 1920s.
Furry’s piece begins by declaring his innocence in the murder case he is being tried for; although, “Judge Harsh” presumes the narrator is guilty from the start. In class, we discussed how having few personal relationships in the real world often causes the accused to suffer and get lost in the system regardless of innocence as demonstrated in the lines, “I ain't got nobody to get me out on bond. I would not mind but I ain't done nothing wrong.” The song goes on to further display the unequal treatment of poor people within the criminal justice system through stating it is not innocence that saves one from jail; rather, money is the savior, “Woman come runnin' with a hundred dollars in her hand. Cryin' Judge, judge, please spare my man. Woman, hundred won't do, better run and get you three.” The song concludes with the conviction of the innocent narrator who offers comfort to his wife and powerfully sings “Judge all talking 'bout what they will do. If they had justice he'd be in penitentiary too.” This line is likely a reference to the crimes the judge has committed against the people of the court. |
"Judge Harsh Blues" by Furry Lewis
Single track (1928) Lyrics Good morning judge, what may be my fine? Good morning judge, what may be my fine? Fifty dollars, eleven twenty-nine They 'rest me for murder, I ain't harmed a man 'Rest me for murder, I ain't harmed a man Women hollerin' murderer, Lord I ain't raised my hand I ain't got nobody to get me out on bond I ain't got nobody to get me out on bond I would not mind but I ain't done nothing wrong Please Judge Harsh, make it light 's you pos'bly can Please Judge Harsh, make it light 's you pos'bly can I ain't did no work judge since I don't know when My woman come runnin' with a hundred dollars in her hand Woman come runnin' with a hundred dollars in her hand Cryin' Judge, judge, please spare my man Woman, hundred won't do, better run and get you three Woman, hundred won't do, better run and get you three That'll keep your man from penitentiary Baby cause I'm arrested, please don't grieve and moan Cause I'm arrested baby, don't grieve and moan Penitentiary seem just like my home People all talking 'bout what they will do Judge all talking 'bout what they will do If they had justice he'd be in penitentiary too |