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.
2 Corinthians 2
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
C'mon get rhythm, when you get the blues
Get a rock 'n roll feeling in your bones
Put taps on your toes and get goin'
Get rhythm, when you get the blues.
Little shoeshine boy never get slowed down
But he's got the dirtiest job in town
On the windy corner of a dirty street
Well, I asked him while he shined my shoes
How'd he keep from gettin' the blues
He grinned as he raised his little head
Popped a shoeshine rag and then he said.
Hey, get rhythm when you get the blues
C'mon get rhythm, when you get the blues
A jumpy rhythm makes you feel so fine
It'll shake all the troubles from your worried mind,
Get rhythm, when you get the blues.
Get rhythm, when you get the blues
C'mon get rhythm, when you get the blues
Get a rock 'n roll feeling in your bones
Put taps on your toes and get goin'
Get rhythm, when you get the blues.
Well, I sat down to listen to the shoeshine boy
And I thought I was gonna jump with joy
Slapped on the shoe polish left and right
He took a shoeshine rag and he held it tight
He stopped once to wipe the sweat away
I said you're a mighty little boy to be-a workin' that way
He said I like it with a big wide grin
Kept on a poppin' and he said again
Get rhythm, when you get the blues
C'mon get rhythm, when you get the blues
It only cost a dime, just a nickel a shoe
It does a million dollars worth of good for you
Get rhythm, when you get the blues
Johnny Cash's "Get Rhythm" is an upbeat song that encourages listeners to find their rhythm when they're feeling down. The first verse emphasizes the importance of music, specifically rock 'n roll, in lifting one's spirits. The second verse tells the story of a shoeshine boy, a hardworking figure who demonstrates the power of positive attitude to overcome personal difficulties.
The shoeshine boy is a particularly interesting character because he represents a resilience and optimism that Cash was known for himself. The boy has a difficult job on a dirty street yet he manages to find joy in his work. When Cash asks the boy how he keeps from getting the blues, the boy's response is simple yet poignant: "get rhythm." This message is arguably the central theme of the song, as Cash repeats it throughout to remind listeners to find their own rhythm during tough times.
Another interesting aspect of "Get Rhythm" is the references to cost and value. The shoeshine boy charges only a nickel per shoe, yet he claims that his work is worth a million dollars to his customers. In this way, the song suggests that happiness can be found even in small, inexpensive things.
In summary, "Get Rhythm" is a song about finding joy in life despite difficult circumstances. Through the character of the shoeshine boy and his simple advice to "get rhythm," Johnny Cash reminds us that music and attitude can make all the difference.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, get rhythm when you get the blues
Use music to lift you up when you're feeling low
C'mon get rhythm, when you get the blues
Find a way to keep your spirits high, even when things are tough
Get a rock 'n roll feeling in your bones
Find something that energizes you and keeps you going
Put taps on your toes and get goin'
Give yourself a little kick to get motivated
Little shoeshine boy never get slowed down
The shoeshine boy doesn't let his job or circumstances bring him down
But he's got the dirtiest job in town
Despite his upbeat attitude, the shoeshine boy has a tough and dirty job
Bendin' low at the peoples' feet
The shoeshine boy works hard to give his customers the best shine possible
On the windy corner of a dirty street
The shoeshine boy's workplace is less than ideal
Well, I asked him while he shined my shoes
The singer struck up a conversation with the shoeshine boy
How'd he keep from gettin' the blues
The singer was curious to know how the shoeshine boy maintained his positive outlook
He grinned as he raised his little head
The shoeshine boy was happy to share his secret
Popped a shoeshine rag and then he said
The shoeshine boy was eager to give his answer
A jumpy rhythm makes you feel so fine
Fast-paced music can improve your mood and energy level
It'll shake all the troubles from your worried mind
Music can help you forget your worries for a little while
Well, I sat down to listen to the shoeshine boy
The singer wanted to hear more from the shoeshine boy
And I thought I was gonna jump with joy
The shoeshine boy's positive energy was infectious
Slapped on the shoe polish left and right
The shoeshine boy worked hard to shine the singer's shoes
He took a shoeshine rag and he held it tight
The shoeshine boy was proud of his work
He stopped once to wipe the sweat away
The shoeshine boy worked so hard, he had to take a break to wipe his forehead
I said you're a mighty little boy to be-a workin' that way
The singer was impressed by the shoeshine boy's work ethic
He said I like it with a big wide grin
The shoeshine boy enjoys his job, despite its challenges
Kept on a poppin' and he said again
The shoeshine boy continued to work and give his advice
It only cost a dime, just a nickel a shoe
The shoeshine boy's services are affordable
It does a million dollars worth of good for you
The shoeshine boy believes his work has great value
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHNNY CASH
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