Joe Bean - Johnny Cash

Last time we were here at Folsom Prison

They were hanging Joe Bean

Is Joe still here… Joe Bean?

Hang the son of a bitch anyways, right?

Well, they’re hanging Joe Bean this morning

For killing a man in Arkansas

Funny thing about it

Joe Bean has never been to Arkansas

On top of that, Joe Bean never heard of the man

In fact, today is Joe Bean’s twentieth birthday

See through the prison bars

Joe Bean, see where the gallows stand

Just twenty short years from the day you were born

You died by the hangman’s hand

Yes, they’re hanging Joe Bean this morning

For a shooting that he never did

He killed 20 men, by the time he was 10, he was an unruly kid

Yes, they’re hanging Joe Bean for the one shooting that Joe Bean never did

Well, Joe — your mother is at the Capitol

Asking the governor for a stay

And it’s hard on her

Because she knows where you were, on that particular day

You were working Joe Bean, hard working, robbing the Santa Fe

Well, the telegraph wires are humming

Here, the governor’s words come through

He said, I can’t set you free, it’s not up to me, but there’s much, Joe Bean,

I’ll do

I’ll join your mother in extending Birthday greetings to you

Happy Birthday, Joe Bean