Cash was known for his deep, calm bass-baritone voice, the Read Full BioJohnny Cash (born J.R. Cash; February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an American singer, guitarist, actor, songwriter, author. He is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, having sold more than 90 million records worldwide. Although primarily remembered as a country music icon, his genre-spanning songs and sound embraced rock and roll, rockabilly, blues, folk, and gospel.
Cash was known for his deep, calm bass-baritone voice, the distinctive sound of his Tennessee Three backing band characterized by train-sound guitar rhythms, a rebelliousness coupled with an increasingly somber and humble demeanor, free prison concerts, and a trademark, all-black stage wardrobe, which earned him the nickname "The Man in Black." He traditionally began his concerts by simply introducing himself, "Hello, I'm Johnny Cash," followed by his signature song "Folsom Prison Blues".
Much of Cash's music contained themes of sorrow, moral tribulation, and redemption, especially in the later stages of his career. His other signature songs include "I Walk the Line", "Ring of Fire", "Get Rhythm", and "Man in Black". He also recorded humorous numbers like "One Piece at a Time" and "A Boy Named Sue"; a duet with his future wife, June Carter, called "Jackson" (followed by many further duets after their wedding); and railroad songs including "Hey, Porter", "Orange Blossom Special", and "Rock Island Line". During the last stage of his career, Cash covered songs by several late 20th-century rock artists, notably "Hurt" by Nine Inch Nails and "Rusty Cage" by Soundgarden.
Johnny Cash was born on February 26, 1932, in Kingsland, Arkansas, to Ray Cash and Carrie Cloveree (née Rivers). He was the fourth of seven children, who were in birth order: Roy, Margaret Louise, Jack, J. R., Reba, Joanne, and Tommy (who also became a successful country artist). He was primarily of English and Scottish descent. As an adult he traced his surname to 11th-century Fife, after meeting with the then-laird of Falkland, Major Michael Crichton-Stuart. Cash Loch and other locations in Fife bear the name of his family.
At birth, Cash was named J. R. Cash. When Cash enlisted in the United States Air Force, he was not permitted to use initials as a first name, so he changed his name to John R. Cash. In 1955, when signing with Sun Records, he started going by Johnny Cash.
In March 1935, when Cash was three years old, the family settled in Dyess, Arkansas, a New Deal colony established to give poor families a chance to work land that they had a chance to own as a result. Cash started working in cotton fields at the age of five, singing along with his family while working. The Cash farm experienced a flood during the family's time in Dyess, which led Cash later to write the song "Five Feet High and Rising". His family's economic and personal struggles during the Great Depression inspired many of his songs, especially those about other people facing similar difficulties. Consequently, Cash had sympathy for the poor and working class throughout his life.
Cash was very close to his older brother, Jack. On Saturday May 12, 1944, Jack was pulled into an unguarded table saw at his high school while cutting oak into fence posts as his job and was almost cut in two. He lingered until the following Saturday, when he died. Cash often spoke of the horrible guilt he felt over this incident; according to Cash: The Autobiography, his father was away that morning, but Johnny, his mother, and even Jack himself, all had premonitions or a sense of foreboding about that day. His mother urged Jack to skip work and go fishing with his brother, but Jack insisted on working since the family needed the money at the time. On his deathbed, Jack said he had visions of Heaven and angels. Decades later, Cash spoke of looking forward to meeting his brother in Heaven.
Cash's early memories were dominated by gospel music and radio. Taught guitar by his mother and a childhood friend, Cash began playing and writing songs at the age of 12. When young, Cash had a high-tenor voice, before becoming a bass-baritone after his voice changed.
In high school, he sang on a local radio station. Decades later, he released an album of traditional gospel songs, called My Mother's Hymn Book. He was also significantly influenced by traditional Irish music, which he heard performed weekly by Dennis Day on the Jack Benny radio program.
In 1997, Cash was diagnosed with the neurodegenerative disease Shy–Drager syndrome, a form of multiple system atrophy. According to biographer Robert Hilburn, the disease was originally misdiagnosed as Parkinson's disease, and Cash even announced to his audience that he had Parkinson's after nearly collapsing on stage in Flint, Michigan, on October 25, 1997. Soon afterwards, his diagnosis was changed to Shy–Drager, and Cash was told he had about 18 months to live. The diagnosis was later again altered to autonomic neuropathy associated with diabetes. The illness forced Cash to curtail his touring. He was hospitalized in 1998 with severe pneumonia, which damaged his lungs.
During the last stage of his career, Cash released the albums American III: Solitary Man (2000) and American IV: The Man Comes Around (2002). American IV included cover songs by several late 20th-century rock artists, notably "Hurt" by Nine Inch Nails and "Personal Jesus" by Depeche Mode. Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails commented that he was initially skeptical about Cash's plan to cover "Hurt", but was later impressed and moved by the rendition. The video for "Hurt" received critical and popular acclaim, including a Grammy Award.
June Carter Cash died on May 15, 2003, at the age of 73. June had told Cash to keep working, so he continued to record, completing 60 more songs in the last four months of his life, and even performed a few surprise shows at the Carter Family Fold outside Bristol, Virginia. At the July 5, 2003, concert (his last public performance), before singing "Ring of Fire", Cash read a statement about his late wife that he had written shortly before taking the stage:
"The spirit of June Carter overshadows me tonight with the love she had for me and the love I have for her. We connect somewhere between here and Heaven. She came down for a short visit, I guess, from Heaven to visit with me tonight to give me courage and inspiration like she always has. She's never been one for me except courage and inspiration. I thank God for June Carter. I love her with all my heart. "
Cash continued to record until shortly before his death. His final recordings were made on August 21, 2003, and consisted of "Like the 309", which appeared on American V: A Hundred Highways in 2006, and the final song he completed, "Engine 143", which was recorded for his son John Carter Cash for a planned Carter Family tribute album.
Hurt
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning | Line by Line Meaning
To see if I still feel
I focus on the pain
The only thing that's real
The needle tears a hole
The old familiar sting
Try to kill it all away
But I remember everything
What have I become
My sweetest friend?
Everyone I know
Goes away in the end
And you could have it all
My empire of dirt
I will let you down
I will make you hurt
I wear this crown of thorns
Upon my liar's chair
Full of broken thoughts
I cannot repair
Beneath the stains of time
The feelings disappear
You are someone else
I am still right here
What have I become
My sweetest friend?
Everyone I know
Goes away in the end
And you could have it all
My empire of dirt
I will let you down
I will make you hurt
If I could start again
A million miles away
I will keep myself
I would find a way
Johnny Cash's song "Hurt" is a powerful and introspective song about the struggles of addiction, isolation, and the realization of one's own mortality. The opening line "I hurt myself today, to see if I still feel" is a clear indication of the self-destructive behavior of the narrator. The line "I focus on the pain, the only thing that's real" beautifully captures the notion that in the depths of despair, the only thing that can be relied upon is the physical sensation of pain.
The use of the needle as a metaphor for addiction in the lines "The needle tears a hole, the old familiar sting" is a heart-rending description of the cyclical nature of addiction. The repetition of the line "what have I become, my sweetest friend?" is a plea for self-examination and a recognition of how far the narrator has fallen. "Everyone I know goes away in the end" is a poignant reminder of the inevitability of death and the alienation that comes from both addiction and the passage of time.
The chorus of the song, "You could have it all, my empire of dirt, I will let you down, I will make you hurt" is a stark admission of the narrator's failures and the damage they have caused. The idea of an "empire of dirt" is a metaphor for the illusion of success that can be built up through addiction, leading ultimately to loss and decay. The image of the "crown of thorns upon my liar's chair, full of broken thoughts I cannot repair" is a powerful depiction of the feelings of guilt and shame that often accompany addiction.
In the end, the final lines of the song "If I could start again, a million miles away, I would keep myself, I would find a way" offer a glimmer of hope in the darkness. It is a testament to the human spirit's resilience, even in the face of hardship and trauma.
Line by Line Meaning
I hurt myself today
I inflicted physical pain on my own body intentionally and deliberately.
To see if I still feel
I wanted to test that I was still capable of experiencing emotions by causing myself physical discomfort.
I focus on the pain
Instead of avoiding pain, I am directing my attention towards it.
The only thing that's real
I am convinced the pain is the only aspect of my existence that is valid and genuine.
The needle tears a hole
The needle used for injecting drugs has the power to make me feel invulnerable but it comes with a price.
The old familiar sting
Even though it is not the first time I've experienced it, the pain caused by the needle still hurts intensely.
Try to kill it all away
I try to get rid of my emotional turmoil through self-destructive consumption of drugs.
But I remember everything
Despite my attempts to forget, I am fully aware of the consequences of my actions and the pain that they bring.
What have I become
I feel as if I have transformed into an unrecognizable and desolate person.
My sweetest friend?
The voice in my head that is asking me this question may be my own or it may be someone who is extremely close to me.
Everyone I know
Every person who is close to me or who used to be a part of my life has left and moved on.
Goes away in the end
No matter how much I want them to stay, everyone in my life inevitably moves on and leaves me behind.
And you could have it all
Despite being surrounded by disappointment and being painfully isolated, I have several material things that I could offer someone.
My empire of dirt
Despite all the material things I have, I am conscious of my own failure and I realize that it is what remains.
I will let you down
I am informing the other person that they should not rely on me and that I will disappoint them.
I will make you hurt
Not only will I let the other person down, but I will also cause them emotional pain.
I wear this crown of thorns
I have taken ownership of the emotional and psychological burden that I carry, which is exemplified by imagery from the Christian belief system.
Upon my liar's chair
I hold responsibility for my own situation, even though I might be dishonest about it, and it feels like I am sitting on a throne of lies.
Full of broken thoughts
My mind is full of erratic and broken thoughts that are a reflection of my emotional and psychological state.
I cannot repair
I am unable to fix myself and my thoughts, which leads to a feeling of helplessness.
Beneath the stains of time
My memories and feelings have been eroded over time.
The feelings disappear
As time goes on, I become less capable of feeling emotions and the ones I have fade away.
You are someone else
Because of my detachment from my emotions, I feel as if I have become a different person, and I can't emotionally connect to others.
I am still right here
Even though I feel changed and vacant, I am still physically present in the world.
If I could start again
I experience regret and wish I could begin anew.
A million miles away
This rhetorical distance is likely impossible to achieve, but it is a way to express how much I want to forget my past.
I will keep myself
This time, I will not allow myself to crumble and fall to temptation. I will take care of myself.
I would find a way
Despite it being difficult or unlikely, I am determined to find a way to rebuild myself.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Trent Reznor
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Midna Lazuli
The fact that "Hurt" is regarded as one of Johnny's greatest hits is a testament to the fact that no matter how far past your prime you think you are, you can always reach new heights.
Mr Damz
@Chris Martone well it is as such. Trent gave it to him after hearing it.
nemesisgenius
This masterpiece is Johnny Cash's best single that should have been his biggest hit ever. Multiple weeks at #1 on the Billboard country singles and pop hot 100 singles chart. I agree, the Man in Black was past his prime, but never stopped making quality music like this masterpiece.
Beemteam
This is nine in nails somg
graham chapple
amen the lyrics and the voice rip j cash
William Taylor
@Scotty Rancourt Exactly! So few people get this concept.
A writer who unknowingly gives another their magnum opus.
Otis Redding unknowingly wrote Respect for Aretha Franklin.
Trent Reznor unknowingly wrote Hurt for Johnny Cash.
StephShortsRBLX
I don’t think there has ever been a more pure look into the window of someone’s soul than this recording. It’s a masterpiece.
A Hogammer
it's not really pure because someone else wrote the song (except for the lyric "thorn" which was changed from "shit")
Rick Jensen
100%
Jared Smith
@Daniel Martineschen lmaooooo
It's nine inch nails. Trent Reznor even said when he hear the cover, that's Johnny's song now