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If Johnny Cash shot a man in Reno, why is he in prison at Folsom State Prison in California? Folsom State Prison is a state prison (that is why it is called Folsom State Prison) in California. It would incarcerate inmates who were convicted of crimes committed in California. Reno is in Nevada. Some might argue that the killing in Reno was part of a kidnapping that either started in California and ended up in Nevada, but if it was an interstate crime, he would have ended up in a federal prison. I think there are two possibilities: 1. At the time the song takes place, Nevada had no prison with good enough security to hold such a dangerous killer, so he was transferred to the nearest maximum security prison available. 2. The crime he committed in Reno is not the one he is in prison in Folsom for. He is just using it as an example of how "badass" he is. In any case, the fact that Mr. Cash would contain such a gaping plot hole in the song really ruins my immersion. This is the type of thing song writers should consider before penning ballads.
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Dec 24, 2014 21:53
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| # ? Apr 27, 2024 04:02 |
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Maybe the Nevada ones were too crowded, so they sent him off there. I think they do that to prisoners, right?
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Dec 24, 2014 21:54
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song ruined hold on while I dramatically toss my original Columbia Records printings out the second story of my house
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Dec 24, 2014 21:54
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he never specifies what he went to prison for, doofus. just that as part of the story background he once shot a man.
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Dec 24, 2014 21:55
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thunderspanks posted:he never specifies what he went to prison for, doofus oh no, my record!!!
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Dec 24, 2014 21:56
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guys it's just a made up song. in truth, there was never anybody called "johnny cash"
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Dec 24, 2014 21:56
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thunderspanks posted:he never specifies what he went to prison for, doofus I cover that under option 2, but still it is strongly implied. "I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die" is the only specific crime mentioned in the song. It would be a bit dishonest of the narrator to give extraneous information. If he is in jail for robbing a liquor store in Sacramento, why doesn't he say that?
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Dec 24, 2014 21:57
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actually he's boasting about what a good shot he is.. he shot the man in reno while standing in california
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Dec 24, 2014 21:58
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Harald posted:actually he's boasting about what a good shot he is.. he shot the man in reno while standing in california Nice theory, but wouldn't that be an interstate, and thus federal, crime?
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Dec 24, 2014 22:01
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You're the exact kinda person j. Cash would never hang out with, op.
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Dec 24, 2014 22:04
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theory number 4: he shot the man in renal (aka the kidneys) just to watch him die a slow and painful death. a commonly misheard lyric
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Dec 24, 2014 22:09
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Harald posted:theory number 4: he shot the man in renal (aka the kidneys) just to watch him die a slow and painful death. a commonly misheard lyric gently caress I actually like that theory. Or maybe he is saying he was "In Renal", like he was in a dialysis unit of the hospital, but still while so weak that he is almost dying he sees an enemy coming, pulls out his gun, and shoots him.
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Dec 24, 2014 22:11
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look maybe you have rich parents or whatever but don't blame a man just because they go to a state prison. not everyone can afford your fancy ivy league private prison.
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Dec 24, 2014 22:23
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reno_Junction,_Californiaquote:Reno Junction is an unincorporated community in Lassen County, California.[1] It is located on the Western Pacific Railroad 0.5 miles (0.8 km) east of Beckwourth Pass,[2] at an elevation of 4997 feet (1523 m).[1] the only reason he left out the junction part is that it wouldn't have fit the meter. MYSTERY SOLVED.
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Dec 24, 2014 22:29
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"I shot a man in Barstow" doesn't have the same ring to it.
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Dec 24, 2014 22:34
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this thread would be better presented as a listicle with an eye grabbing headline, like 5 Insane Reasons Johnny Cash Never Shot A Man In Reno
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Dec 24, 2014 22:42
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I never listened to the whole song even if its in my avatar signature.
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Dec 24, 2014 22:46
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probably police brutality op
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Dec 24, 2014 22:47
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good point op.. i will never listen to this song the same way again
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Dec 24, 2014 23:01
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furthermore, if he was just a baby, how is he supposed to be able to remember what his mother told him?
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Dec 24, 2014 23:03
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John Denver Hoxha posted:furthermore, if he was just a baby, how is he supposed to be able to remember what his mother told him? Sometimes you have strong memories of specific incidents. Or maybe it was something she told him she had been saying since he was a baby. Like "Johnny, I've been saying since before you were able to walk to don't ever play with guns" And isn't the lyric "Young boy"
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Dec 24, 2014 23:13
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Mr. Popo posted:"I shot a man in Barstow" doesn't have the same ring to it. If you shoot a man in Barstow, you can always just claim it was a mercy killing.
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Dec 24, 2014 23:18
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Glad that mystery was solved. Now can we start figuring out why Bob Marley decided to leave a witness and not shoot the deputy?
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Dec 25, 2014 04:22
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TrixRabbi posted:Glad that mystery was solved. Now can we start figuring out why Bob Marley decided to leave a witness and not shoot the deputy? And for that matter, why was he making such a point out of not killing the deputy? I don't know if there would be that much difference in the legal ramifications between killing one cop or two.
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Dec 25, 2014 04:23
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and in that vein....why would you tell 'scary ghost stories' for christmas?
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Dec 25, 2014 04:24
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i liked it when johnny cash covered head like a hole, his version was way better
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Dec 25, 2014 04:25
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glowing-fish posted:gently caress I actually like that theory. Maybe he meant the victim was in the dialysis unit suffering and it was a mercy killing?
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Dec 25, 2014 04:34
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did you know he performed the song IN folsom state prison? so meta... 
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Dec 25, 2014 04:40
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Johnny cash hasn't been in prison as an inmate
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Dec 25, 2014 04:46
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l95D7leeU3w
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Dec 25, 2014 05:00
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| # ? Apr 27, 2024 04:02 |
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Cash got the song from a movie he saw while serving in the air force. This song is 100% factual though. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aq344ks1ieg
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Dec 25, 2014 05:16
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