On January 1, 1959, Johnny Cash stood in front of inmates at the San Quentin State Prison in California and put their feelings into song lyrics.
Cash, who was also arrested on several occasions, performed a song — named after the infamous institution — that would go on to become a classic. The words spoke of experiences the inmates could relate to, hence why many applauded throughout the tune. They also got a kick out of the way he treated one of the prison guards.
"San Quentin, I hate every inch of you / You've cut me and you scarred me through and through / And I'll walk out a wiser weaker man / Mr. Congressman you can't understand," sang Cash while playing his guitar.
The concert in this specific prison was a memorable moment in Cash's career, much like the time he performed a holiday classic with his daughters and stepdaughters. And it was only one of many to come: Cash went on to perform in more prisons throughout his career. According to his youngest brother, he volunteered his time because he felt a connection to those behind bars.
"He always identified with the underdog," said Tommy Cash, according to BBC. "He identified with the prisoners because many of them had served their sentences and had been rehabilitated in some cases, but were still kept there for the rest of their lives. He felt a great empathy with those people."
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