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.
A Backstage Pass
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I had a backstage pass to
The Willie Nelson Show
There were wackos and weirdos
And dingbats and dodos
And athletes and movie stars
And David Allan Coe
And every minority race
With a backstage pass to
The Willie Nelson Show
Kristofferson got an offer for a movie
Promoters closed another deal or two
Waylon got a call from his son Shooter and
He went home the minute he was through
I moved with the mob at intermission
To the green room where you
See who you can see
There were has-been's and
Would-be's and never-were's
Paupers punks and millionaires and me
And there were wackos
Hell's Angels blocked the traffic
To the building
In order for the beer truck to come through
And waiting in the wings to sing with
Willie were hopeful stars
Of flickering magnitude
There was a singer Willie knew
Back in the fifties
Who once paid him fifty dollars for a song
There were women who once did
And some who still would
I heard one ask did Connie come along
And there were wackos
I wish you could have been there, well
Maybe you were
The opening lyrics of Johnny Cash's song A Backstage Pass give the listener a glimpse into what happens backstage at a Willie Nelson concert. Johnny Cash had the privilege of having a backstage pass to one of Willie Nelson’s concerts and it seems like he had a great time. The song talks about the eclectic mix of people backstage from “wackoes and weirdoes” to “athletes and movie stars” and everything in between. The diversity of the people in attendance is highlighted with the mention of every “minority race” being present. The song depicts the backstage area as chaotic and lively, with people bustling around and making deals. Kristofferson got an offer to star in a movie, while Waylon got a call from his son, Shooter. Cash himself moved with the mob during the intermission to the green room.
The song also introduces the listener to some of the people at the concert. There was David Allan Coe, a famous country singer and songwriter, as well as hopeful stars waiting to sing with Willie. The famous Hell’s Angels motorcycle gang blocked the traffic outside the building to allow the beer truck to come through. The song also mentions that there were women there who still held a flame for one of the performers, and some even asked if “Connie” had come along.
The song is a fun and lively account of what goes on backstage at a concert. It highlights the diversity of people who attend concerts and what celebrities get up to when they’re not performing. Johnny Cash’s love for Willie Nelson’s music and the camaraderie amongst performers comes through in the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Hello, I'm Johnny Cash
Introduction of the artist
One night I had a backstage pass
The story starts with the artist having a backstage pass
To a Willie Nelson show
The artist is backstage at a Willie Nelson concert
There were wackoes and weirdoes and dingbats and dodoes
The backstage area was filled with unusual and eccentric characters
And athletes and movie stars and David Allan Coe
Famous and successful people from various fields were also present
There was leather and lace and every minority race
A diverse group of people, including those of different races and fashion styles, were present
With a backstage pass to the Willie Nelson show
Everyone had a backstage pass to see Willie Nelson
Kristofferson got an offer for a movie
A movie offer was made to Kris Kristofferson
Promoters closed another deal or two
Business deals were being made
Waylon got a call from his son Shooter
Waylon Jennings received a call from his son
And he went home the minute he was through
Waylon left as soon as he finished his performance
I moved with the mob at intermission
The artist joined the crowd during intermission
To the green room where you see who you can see
The artist went to the green room to see who was there
There were has-been's and would-be's and never-were's
Famous people, aspiring artists, and those who never made it were present
Paupers, punks and millionaires and me
People of different economic backgrounds were in attendance
Hell's Angels blocked the traffic to the building
The Hell's Angels motorcycle club stopped traffic so the beer truck could come through
In order for the beer truck to come through
The traffic was blocked to accommodate the beer delivery
And waitin' in the wings to sing with Willie
Potential stars were waiting to perform with Willie Nelson
Were hopeful stars of flickering magnitude
There were many aspiring and upcoming artists present
There was a singer Willie knew back in the fifties
Willie Nelson knew one of the singers from the 1950s
Who once paid him fifty dollars for a song
This person had paid Willie only $50 for a song in the past
There were women who once did and some who still would
Women who had been romantically involved with Willie in the past were present
I heard one ask, "Did Connie come along?"
Someone asked about the whereabouts of a woman named Connie
I wish, you could've been there
The artist wishes that others could have been present to experience the event
But maybe you were
The artist acknowledges that others may have already been there, albeit unnoticed
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kazpurconn
i absolutely love this song! always have. im only 22 and i was raised on this great American music!!!
@amlesh8638
After 12 years, it's my turn
@joekerr6874
My Mother got me this album on cassette for Christmas when I was about 11 years old. That was back in the mid 80's. I've been a Johnny Cash fan ever since.
@barrygioportmorien1
This is great, I have never heard it before, should have been a hit....
@clifford5237
Have friends who are Angels and they love the song
@josenegreira2713
Escelelente un temazo
@CoronaTheFatCat
Johnny Cash is the ONLY man who is stronger than Chuck Norris
@Rey-ne3fc
Nice song
@crazzypitt
cash is no waylon but hes good.
@lum967
He's far better than Waylon