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 over Again
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All over again
Every time I think of you it all begins
All over again
One little dream at night and I can dream all day
It only takes a memory to thrill me
One little kiss from you and I just fly away
I wanna fall in love beginning from the start
All over again
Show me how you stole away my heart
All over again
One little dream at night and I can dream all day
It only takes a memory to thrill me
One little kiss from you and I just fly away
Pour me out your love until you fill me
I wanna fall in love beginning from the start
All over again
Show me how you stole away my heart
All over again
All over again
All over again
All over again
All over again
The lyrics to Johnny Cash's song "All Over Again" express the overwhelming feeling of falling in love over and over again with someone. The singer describes how just looking at this person or thinking about them ignites the passionate feelings that they share. The simple act of dreaming about this person can make their day, and just a single memory of being with them can thrill them. The power of a kiss from this person can lift them up and make them feel like they're flying. The singer wants to experience falling in love with the same person all over again, to feel that excitement and joy they felt in the beginning. They want this person to show them once again how they stole away their heart.
The song conveys a sense of nostalgia and longing, as the singer attempts to recapture the intense emotions they felt when they first fell in love. It speaks to the universal desire to feel loved and to experience that feeling as deeply and as often as possible throughout our lives. The repetition of the chorus emphasizes this feeling of being swept away and completely overcome by love, as the singer repeats "All over again" over and over.
Overall, the song is a testament to the enduring power of love, a force that can make us feel like we are experiencing something new and extraordinary each time we fall for someone.
Line by Line Meaning
Every time I look at you I fall in love
Your presence sets my heart aflutter, and my love for you grows every time I see you.
Every time I think of you it all begins
Thoughts of you trigger an avalanche of affection and enamourment.
One little dream at night and I can dream all day
Your slightest memory makes my daydreams overtly romantic and dreamy.
It only takes a memory to thrill me
A simple recollection of our time together is enough to excite my senses and keep my heart racing.
One little kiss from you and I just fly away
A kiss from your lips takes me to the skies and beyond, and fills my heart with joy and elation.
Pour me out your love until you fill me
Shower me with all the love in your heart, till it fills me to the brim and overflows.
I wanna fall in love beginning from the start
I yearn for the feeling of falling in love afresh every time, with all the giddy thrills and delights that come with it.
Show me how you stole away my heart
Take me back to those initial days when you captured my heart and let me relive that feeling once more.
All over again
From the very beginning, anew each time.
All over again
Starting afresh every time, with the same fervour as the first time.
All over again
Rekindling of love and its feelings all over again.
All over again
Beginning anew, every single time.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHNNY R. CASH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Scott Smith
One great song of many from Johnny Cash, but one of my favorites of all time.
Michael Walker
Yet another top-class song by Johnny Cash. The harmony and backup by The Jordanaires make it even better.
Michael Walker
A top-drawer song by Johnny Cash. The backup singing is also superb.
TheEyeOfOdin
I love the first line so much. Keep replaying it.
INACTIVE
Aunque no hablo inglés, esta canción sigue siendo genial.
Teresa Powers
Johhy Cash a never forgotten signing man, what awesome talent, his band was the best as well
Single
We love JOHNNY CASH
Il Coyote
i love this song , johnny you're the MEN ! Unique
Agent Pávek
+Il Coyote I love this too a song! Johnny is a God!
Lee Meakins
Always Loved This Song...Damn...Great Song..