9 Radio-Friendly Songs About Murdering Somebody

4. Folsom Prison Blues - Johnny Cash

A staple of any 'Best Of' Johnny Cash' mix, Folsom Prison Blues was one of Johnny's biggest hits off of his first album. He penned it after watching a documentary on Folsom Prison while in the army and while trying to think of the worst reason to kill a man, he came up with one of the most memorable lines ever about murdering.

He went on to sing this song for a captive audience at Folsom Prison, a special concert set up for the inmates which was recorded live and went on to become one of his better selling albums in later years. While the cheering at the line 'just to watch him die' sounds authentic enough and probably expected, it was revealed that the cheering was added in post-production. The prisoners were told to be on their best behavior, fearing reprisals from the guards if they didn't walk the line.

Of course, the song is told by the perspective of a prisoner of Folsom Prison who's main activity in the jail is listening daily to a train going by and wondering who is on that train. All he wants is to get back on the outside and on that train, far away from Folsom Prison. A perfect song for the voice of Johnny Cash, accompanied by a tight walking bass line.