Written by Johnny Cash 



I walked through the big yard, to feel the warm sunshine

A ninety-nine year man, stepped over to me

He offered a smoke, and said as I rolled it

Tomorrow I'm goin', to break out and go free



They feed us by sunlight, they watch us by spotlight

But I know a way that a man can go free

Down under my cell, I'm diggin' a tunnel

The walls of a prison can never hold me



I told him that I'd have no part of his scheming

My time would be up, one year from today

His eyes blazed with fire, and he looked right through me

Bitter, but broken, again he did say



They feed us by sunlight, they watch us by spotlight

But I know a way that a man can go free

Down under my cell, I'm diggin' a tunnel

The walls of a prison can never hold me



Next morning at breakfast, the old man was missing

Then we all heard the rifles high up on the wall

He'd gone through the tunnel, just like he had promised

And they said he was crying, when they saw him fall



They feed us by sunlight, they watch us by spotlight

But I know a way that a man can go free

Down under my cell, I'm diggin' a tunnel

The walls of a prison can never hold me