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Sunday, 16 August 2015

Johnny Cash: San Quentin

Track of the Week - 16 August 2015

It's been a driving about in the countryside sort of weekend - going to antique fairs, old houses, afternoon tea and visiting. While on our travels we went through the village of Stanton St Quintin* which put me in mind of this Johnny Cash number.

From his 1969 live album At San Quentin and recorded in the state prison of the same name it's an early example of shooting fish in a barrel. A hugely popular musician, in a prison, singing a song to prisoners about how bad it is to be in that prison. "San Quentin, may you rot and burn in hell" for instance. It gets such an enthusiastic reception that Cash plays the song again immediately.

Sticking up for the writer though it does have a bit of social commentary: "May all the world forget you ever stood. And may all the world regret you did no good."




We might have been not entirely on the right road at the time. Should have put the satnav on.

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