Celebrate the Heart of Country, Americana, and Roots Music!

Drop Us A Line, Y'all

Y'all interested in advertising, partnering up, contributing stories, joining our team, or just got a question? Well, don't be shy, drop us a line!

Follow Us

Country Songs About Going To Jail or Prison That Have To Be True Gems

Country Songs About Going To Jail or Prison
by
  • Arden is a Senior Country Music Journalist for Country Thang Daily, specializing in classic hits and contemporary chart-toppers.
  • Prior to joining Country Thang Daily, Arden wrote for Billboard and People magazine, covering country music legends and emerging artists.
  • Arden holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Tennessee, with a minor in Music Studies.

It seems like singers and songwriters often find themselves captivated by the complicated and miserable subjects, and many of them found the entire concept of prisons to be really encouraging. In fact, country songs about going to jail or prison have a rich history in the genre – whether the singer speaks as someone who is in jail, going to jail, or breaking out of them.

RELATED: The Best of the Best: Male Country Singers

So here below, we will go over some of the most exciting and famous songs about prisons.

1. “Folsom Prison Blues” by Johnny Cash

This heart-melting song was a massive hit for Johnny Cash, becoming one of his signature songs and helping him win a Grammy Award for Best Country Vocal Performance, Male. 

The country legend was inspired to write “Folsom Prison Blues” after watching the 1951 movie Inside the Walls of Folsom Prison while serving in West Germany in the United States Air Force.

2. “Mama Tried” by Merle Haggard

This classic song “Mama Tried” from Merle Haggard plainly and briefly delivers the feelings of a guilt-ridden narrator – a “one and only rebel child” – who ignored his mother’s appeals to straighten up and do the right thing. He ended up in prison, serving “life without parole.

3. “Women’s Prison” by Loretta Lynn

Throughout her career, Loretta Lynn has penned and sang songs about marital abuse, adultery, much to the horror of conservative country radio – and “Women’s Prison” is another excellent addition to her repertoire.

4. “Still Doing Time” by George Jones

The heartbreaking ballad tells the story of a man who was caught cheating and is now all on his own since the love of his life left him. A year later, the man remarked that he’s “still doin’ time” for his mistakes by drinking his grief away and “living in h— with a bar for a cell.”

5. “Ol’ Red” by Blake Shelton

Blake Shelton’s classic cover of George Jones’ “Ol Red” became one of Shelton’s first No. 1 hits after kicking off his career in country music. The song is about a man in jail after committing a crime of passion upon the discovery of his lover’s affair. 

6. “You Never Even Called Me by My Name” by David Allan Coe

In 1975, the outlaw country star made his first mark on the country charts with this sarcastic song “You Never Even Called Me by My Name” that describes itself in the lyrics as “the perfect country and western song.” Well, David Allan Coe made sure to add the necessary elements for it to do so. This includes mama, trains, trucks, getting drunk, and of course, prison.

7. “Sing Me Back Home” by Merle Haggard

“Sing Me Back Home” finds Haggard playing the role of an inmate who watches his fellow prisoner walk to the death chamber. He then asked to play a final song for the condemned prisoner.

8. “I Made the Prison Band” by Merle Haggard

Prison is definitely a common theme of Haggard’s songs, and this one is true to itself. The country legend actually played in a prison band while doing time at San Quentin.

9. “Nothin’ Better to Do” by LeAnn Rimes

The up-tempo ballad comes with a music video where Rimes is shown in a Women’s Correctional Facility, dancing and singing with fellow inmates.

10. “Starkville City Jail” by Johnny Cash

Among the seven arrests Johnny Cash amassed during his most turbulent years, none was quite like the time he was arrested in Starkville, Mississippi, and he narrated the mishap in this song.

11. “(I Heard That) Lonesome Whistle” by Hank Williams

The song contains two of country music’s central themes: trains and prison. As expected, it became a big hit for Hank Williams.

12. “A Week in a Country Jail” by Tom T. Hall

After he was caught speeding, the man in the song finds himself confined to jail until a judge comes around. For the moment, he needs to adjust his preferences – making “hot bologna, eggs, and gravy” appetizing and the jailer’s homely wife attractive.

13. “Blackjack County Chain” by Willie Nelson

The controversial song tells the story of a brutal sheriff who picks up vagrants and enslaves them – but when they caught the sheriff sleeping, they fought back and beat him dead. 

14. “Life in Prison” by Merle Haggard

While most of Haggard’s jail songs are autobiographical, this one’s an exemption. It tells the tale of a man who killed his wife while “insane with rage” and was punished by leaving him to live with his guilt.

15. “Cocaine Blues” by Johnny Cash

Johnny Cash legendarily performed the country ballad during his 1968 Folsom Prison concert. It’s about a man who murders his unfaithful girlfriend while under the influence of whiskey and cocaine.

More Country Songs About Going To Jail or Prison That Prove It’s A Common Subject

We’ve dug a little deeper and discovered a vast and varied collection of music directly inspired by the prison experience. Check them out below.

  • “Chains” by Patty Loveless 
  • “I’m Here to Get My Baby Out of Jail” by Johnny Cash
  • “Huntsville” by Merle Haggard 
  • “There Ain’t No Good Chain Gang” by Johnny Cash 
  • “Outlaw Blues” by Bob Dylan
  • “If I Could Only Fly” by Merle Haggard
  • “Christmas In Prison” by John Prine 
  • “Good Ol’ Boys (Theme from Dukes of Hazzard)” by Waylon Jennings
  • “11 Months and 29 Days” by Johnny Paycheck
  • “I Found Jesus on the Jailhouse Floor” by George Strait

Indeed, country songs about going to jail or prison are often depressing, with stories of so much difficulty and misery. But isn’t that what most of the best country songs are about?

Latest Stories

Zach Bryan performs live on stage in a previous concert, wearing a sleeveless shirt and ball cap, as he announces a surprise $50 Red Rocks show set for August.

Zach Bryan Drops Surprise Red Rocks Show With a $50 Ticket Cap and a Promise to Keep It Real

While everyone else is out here selling pit passes for the price of a mortgage payment, Zach Bryan just dropped a $50 Red Rocks show like it was nothing. On ...

Mark Herndon plays drums on stage with a smile, wearing sunglasses and a bandana, representing his longtime role with country supergroup Alabama despite feeling like an outsider.

He Was Alabama’s Drummer for Years But Mark Herndon Says He Was Never Treated Like He Belonged

He played the beat behind the biggest country band in the world, but they made sure he knew his place. Off to the side. Mark Herndon was the guy in ...

The Dixie Chicks pose in front of an American flag in white T-shirts, with the words "FREE SPEECH" written on their arms—capturing the controversial moment that reshaped their career after 2003.

Whatever Happened to the Dixie Chicks After They Crossed the Line in 2003?

They weren’t canceled. They self-destructed and dared people to cheer for it. Back in 2003, the Dixie Chicks were sitting on top of the world. They were country music’s biggest ...

Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard perform on stage together in 2015, each playing a guitar and singing into microphones, proving their legendary status with the success of their album Django and Jimmie.

On This Day in 2015, Willie and Merle Proved They Still Ran the Damn Game With “Django and Jimmie”

You can’t kill country legends, especially when they roll into town smoking pot and topping charts. On June 11, 2015, “Django and Jimmie” officially climbed to Number One on the ...

Hank Williams performs “Lovesick Blues” at the Grand Ole Opry in 1949, standing at the WSM microphone in a pinstripe suit and cowboy hat, holding an acoustic guitar during his historic debut.

On This Day in 1949, Hank Williams Stepped on the Opry Stage and Blew the Damn Roof Off

They tried to keep him out, but when Hank Williams finally hit the Grand Ole Opry stage, country music would never be the same. June 11, 1949. The Ryman Auditorium ...

John Foster, Breanna Nix, and IAMKNOWN sit on a front porch singing a heartfelt acoustic rendition of “Go Rest High on That Mountain,” with John playing guitar and all three pouring raw emotion into the harmony.

John Foster, Breanna Nix, and IAMKNOWN Team Up for a Soul-Crushing Take on “Go Rest High on That Mountain”

They didn’t win American Idol, but this performance says otherwise. John Foster, Breanna Nix, and IAMKNOWN reunited after the American Idol finale to deliver a stripped-down, straight-from-the-gut version of Vince ...

Miss Kay Robertson is struggling after Phil’s death, facing serious health issues and grief that cuts deep after 60 years of love, loss, and shared life.

Miss Kay Robertson ‘Not in the Best of Health’ After Phil’s Death According to Son Willie

She’s been with the same man for sixty years, and now she’s waking up every morning wondering why the damn house is so quiet. Phil Robertson is gone, and Miss ...

Trisha Yearwood performs passionately on stage in a black fringe dress, set to headline a benefit concert in Santa Barbara supporting first responders and wildfire-affected musicians.

Trisha Yearwood Set to Take the Stage in Santa Barbara to Raise Funds for First Responders

Country powerhouse Trisha Yearwood is heading west, and she’s bringing some real heart with her. The three-time Grammy winner has been tapped to headline the 2025 One805LIVE! benefit concert, an ...

Faith Hill beams backstage at CMA Fest 2025 in her first public appearance in two years, wearing a wide-brim hat and leather jacket while chatting with friends.

Faith Hill Stuns With Her First Public Appearance in Two Years After Stepping Out of the Spotlight

It’s been a long time since Faith Hill showed up where fans least expected her, especially without a microphone in hand. CMA Fest 2025 brought out just about everyone in ...

Faith Hill waves to the crowd on stage in a white dress, fueling speculation about her quiet retirement from country music after years of absence from the spotlight.

Did Faith Hill Quietly Step Away From Country Music? The Biggest Sign Yet She’s Retired

There’s going quiet, and then there’s straight-up ghosting a whole genre. Faith Hill hasn’t just taken a break from country music. She’s vanished. One of the biggest names in the ...