Here is the story told through the lyrics and the perspective of the inmate:

: The protagonist reflects on a childhood where his mother warned him to "always be a good boy" and avoid guns. This advice was ignored in a moment of cold, inexplicable violence— shooting a man in Reno just to watch him die.

Everlast’s version of keeps the core narrative of Johnny Cash’s original while layering in his signature gritty, blues-rock aesthetic.

: The primary source of his emotional pain is the train whistle . He hears it "comin' 'round the bend," carrying rich folks eating in fancy dining cars, drinking whiskey, and smoking cigars. Their movement and freedom directly contrast with his own stationary cage, serving as a constant reminder of what he has lost.