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.
All Around Cowboy
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He's been through the best of his friends
On a long lonesome highway and an old pickup truck
Crossed Texas with a hot dusty wind
He was all around cowboy 1959 from the top it's been a long way down
Since the whiskey and ladies started winning his time
They rode him high and hard to the ground
And the feeling of bein' a beginner in the days of his first rodeo
But there was something about winning that didn't last forever
But tomorrow it's bound to get better he'll be the all around cowboy again
The windmills're turning on the west Texas plains but he's dry as an old river bed
He's just like the dust that's a searching for rain but he knows he'll be ridin' again
So he rolls up a smoke and he sips his Old Crow
Whipes the whiskers that cover his chin
He grins as he dreams of the next rodeo to be the all around cowboy again
But he remembers the thrill
of being a winner, and the feeling of being a beginner in the days of his first rodeo. The lyrics of "All Around Cowboy" by Johnny Cash tell the story of a cowboy who was once at the top of his game, but has fallen on hard times in the years since. The cowboy has been through the best of his friends, traveling on a long lonesome highway in an old pickup truck, enduring Texas with a hot, dusty wind. The cowboy was once the all-around cowboy in 1959, but since then, whiskey and women have taken their toll on his time.
Despite his struggles, the cowboy never loses sight of his dream, and he continues to find hope in the promise of a better tomorrow. He knows that he'll be riding again, searching for that feeling of being a winner, dreaming of the next rodeo where he can once again be the all-around cowboy. These lyrics speak to the resilience and determination of the human spirit, and they remind us of the power of hope in even the darkest of times.
Line by Line Meaning
Just a broken down cowboy all down on his luck
The cowboy is in a state of destitution and hopelessness.
He's been through the best of his friends
The cowboy has gone through the highest points of his life with his buddies.
On a long lonesome highway and an old pickup truck
The cowboy is on a journey and traveling on a road that feels desolate and empty with his old pickup truck.
Crossed Texas with a hot dusty wind
The cowboy has gone through Texas, with the wind feeling hot and arid.
He was all around cowboy 1959 from the top it's been a long way down
In the year 1959, the cowboy was the all-around cowboy, but since then, he's seen a downwards trend in his life.
Since the whiskey and ladies started winning his time
The cowboy's time and attention have been occupied by alcohol and women.
They rode him high and hard to the ground
The cowboy has been knocked down so many times that he feels like he's hit rock bottom.
But he remembers the thrill of bein' a winner
The cowboy recalls the excitement of being a victor and reminiscences on those happy memories.
And the feeling of bein' a beginner in the days of his first rodeo
The cowboy is transported back to when he first started and experienced his very first rodeo, feeling like a beginner.
But there was something about winning that didn't last forever
The cowboy realizes that winning, whilst exciting and elating, doesn't stick around permanently.
But tomorrow it's bound to get better he'll be the all around cowboy again
Although times may be tough, the cowboy holds onto hope and believes that things will look up, and he will be successful once more.
The windmills're turning on the west Texas plains but he's dry as an old river bed
The environment surrounding the cowboy is turning and changing, but he is still feeling lifeless and barren like a dried-up riverbed.
He's just like the dust that's a searching for rain but he knows he'll be ridin' again
The cowboy is like the dust, longing for and seeking something, but he knows in his heart that he will ride again someday.
So he rolls up a smoke and he sips his Old Crow
To ease his troubled mind, the cowboy reaches for his tobacco and Old Crow, a brand of whiskey.
Whipes the whiskers that cover his chin
The cowboy brushes his beard, apprehensive about his future, and tense about whether he will rise or fall again.
He grins as he dreams of the next rodeo to be the all around cowboy again
Despite the difficulty he's endured, the cowboy has hope and still envisions a successful future in the next rodeo where he will be the all-around cowboy once more.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: J ROUTH, L POLLARD
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