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.
02. Born And Raised In Black And White
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Makes some people go insane
While others quietly pray for rain
That's where we came from
Two boys playing in the burning sun
One with books, one with guns
Mama calls but just one comes
In a crystal sense of wrong and right
We were born and raised in black and white
One learned to pray, one loved to fight
We were born and raised in black and white
We were born and raised in black and white
Brother took to the gospel road
Spent his whole live saving souls
When he looked at me his blood ran cold
He didn't even try
I had no dreams, I had no plans
But a gun felt good in my right hand
The warden asked, “How come you killed that man”
I said, “I don't know why”
Welcome home said the hot moonlight
We were born and raised in black and white
One lives to pray, one prays for life
We were born and raised in black and white
We were born and raised in black and white
Someone handed me a cigarette
They offered me my last request
I asked my mortal soul be blessed
By someone close to me
He came to me with trembling hands
He swore he'd never understand
I said it's just what life had planned
It's destiny
Don't waste your tears on me tonight
We were born and raised in black and white
I chose the dark, you chased the light
We were born and raised in black and white
We were born and raised in black and white
The wind blows hard across the Texas planes
Makes some people go insane
While others quietly pray for rain
The song "Born and Raised in Black and White" by Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson tells the story of two siblings who were raised in a black and white world where right and wrong were clearly defined. The first stanza describes the harsh conditions of Texas Plains, and how some people cope with the extreme weather by either going crazy or quietly praying for rain. The second stanza introduces the two brothers, one who loves to read, and the other who enjoys playing with guns. The mother calls them, but only one comes back, while the other runs away.
The chorus emphasizes the significant contrast between the two brothers. One of them pursues a career in religion and dedicates his life to saving souls, while the other ends up in jail for killing someone. The lyrics suggest that the world they grew up in was black and white, where there was a clear understanding of what was right and what was wrong. The final verse describes the brother who is sentenced to death row, is given his last request, and he asks for his soul to be blessed. His sibling, who is unable to comprehend his actions, comes to him, but the singer reassures him that everything that happened was destiny, and he should not waste tears over him.
Overall, "Born and Raised in Black and White" is a poignant narrative about the lives of two brothers who were brought up in a world where there were clear distinctions between right and wrong. It discusses how one can ultimately end up on different life paths, even if they start from the same path.
Line by Line Meaning
The wind blows hard across the Texas planes
The intense Texas wind is blowing across the planes with a force that could almost sweep someone off their feet.
Makes some people go insane
The relentless wind is enough to drive some people mad with its constant howling and fierce pressure.
While others quietly pray for rain
In the face of the unrelenting wind, some choose to stay calm and hope for some respite in the form of the rain that will hopefully follow.
That's where we came from
Our origins lie in this wild and challenging land where the elements can test the limits of human endurance and perseverance.
Two boys playing in the burning sun
Two young boys out in the scorching heat, playing together and enjoying the carefree days of childhood.
One with books, one with guns
One boy is more inclined to academics and learning, while the other is interested in weapons and the art of combat.
Mama calls but just one comes
Although both brothers are called, only one of them comes home in response to their mother's summons.
The other one runs
The other brother chooses to flee, perhaps out of fear or uncertainty.
In a crystal sense of wrong and right
The boys were raised with very clear and unwavering moral values, where right and wrong were easily distinguishable and simple to understand.
We were born and raised in black and white
Their upbringing, as well as their outlook on life, was quite binary, with little room for nuance or ambiguity.
One learned to pray, one loved to fight
One brother developed a strong religious conviction and found solace in prayer, while the other was drawn to the thrill of battle and the adrenaline rush of combat.
Brother took to the gospel road
One brother followed the teachings of the gospel and became a devout Christian.
Spent his whole life saving souls
His life's work was focused on spreading the word of God and helping others find their way to salvation.
When he looked at me his blood ran cold
The other brother was dangerous and unpredictable, and his very presence made his sibling feel uneasy and ill at ease.
He didn't even try
The dangerous brother shows no sign of repentance or remorse for his violent ways.
I had no dreams, I had no plans
The violent brother had no aspirations or goals, and saw no hope in the future.
But a gun felt good in my right hand
He found a sense of power and control in wielding a firearm that gave him a measure of comfort and satisfaction.
The warden asked, “How come you killed that man”
After being convicted of murder, the warden wants to know why the perpetrator committed the crime.
I said, “I don't know why”
The murderer denies having any clear motivation or rational thought behind their violent outburst.
Welcome home said the hot moonlight
The prisoner is released from jail and reunited with the outside world under the watchful eye of the moon's bright beams.
One lives to pray, one prays for life
One brother is devoted to his faith and spirituality, while the other is just trying to survive and stay alive.
Someone handed me a cigarette
A stranger offers a dying man a final cigarette as a gesture of goodwill and pity.
They offered me my last request
Knowing that his end is near, the dying man is offered one final gesture or message to convey to the world.
I asked my mortal soul be blessed
The dying man requests that his eternal soul be granted peace and redemption after his passing.
By someone close to me
The man wants someone he knows and trusts to carry out his final wish and make sure it is properly honored.
Don't waste your tears on me tonight
The man urges others not to weep or mourn for him, as he has made his peace with his fate and is ready to meet his maker.
I chose the dark, you chased the light
The two brothers chose vastly different paths in life, one opting for darkness and violence, while the other sought the light and the promise of redemption.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: COOK, JARVIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Anonymous
on Wayfaring Stranger
Wayfaring Stranger - The New Appalachians - Lyrics
I am a poor wayfaring stranger
Traveling through this world alone
There will be no sickness, toil or danger
In that grand land to which I roam
Well I'm going home to see my mother
I'm going home to a morning rose
I'm only goin' over Jordan
I'm only goin' over home
Musical Interlude
I know dark clouds will gather 'round me
I know my way is rough and steep
And beautiful fields lie just before me
Where God's redeemed there vigils keep
Well I'm going home to see my brothers
I'm going home no more to roam
I'm only goin' over Jordan
I'm only goin' over home
Musical Interlude
I'm going home to see my Father
I'm going home no more to roam
I'm only goin' over Jordan
I’m only goin’ where no one roams
I want to wear that crown of glory
When I get to that good land
I want to shout out salvation story
In concert with that blood washed band.
I'm going there to see my saviour
I’ll see his face no more to roam
I'm only going over Jordan
I'm only going over home
I'm only goin' over home