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 (nƩe 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 ShyāDrager 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 ShyāDrager, 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.
As Long As The Grass Shall Grow
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As long as the sun will shine as long as the grass shall grow
The Senecas are an Indian tribe of the Iroquios nation
Down on the New York Pennsylvania Line you'll find their reservation
After the US revolution corn planter was a chief
He told the tribe these men they could trust that was his true belief
He went down to Independence Hall and there was a treaty signed
That promised peace with the USA and Indian rights combined
They said that now and forever more that this was Indian land
As long as the moon shall rise...
On the Seneca reservation there is much sadness now
Washington's treaty has been broken and there is no hope no how
Across the Allegheny River they're throwing up a dam
It will flood the Indian country a proud day for Uncle Sam
It has broke the ancient treaty with a politician's grin
It will drown the Indians graveyards corn planter can you swim
The earth is mother to the the Senecas they're trampling sacred ground
Change the mint green earth to black mud flats as honor hobbles down
As long as the moon shall rise...
The Iroquios Indians used to rule from Canada way south
But no one fears the Indians now and smiles the liar's mouth
The Senecas hired an expert to figure another site
But the great good army engineers said that he had no right
Although he showed them another plan and showed them another way
They laughed in his face and said no deal Kinuza dam is here to stay
Congress turned the Indians down brushed off the Indians plea
So the Senecas have renamed the dam they call it Lake Perfidy
As long as the moon shall rise...
Washington Adams and Kennedy now hear their pledges ring
The treaties are safe we'll keep our word but what is that gurgling
It's the back water from Perfidy Lake it's rising all the time
Over the homes and over the fields and over the promises fine
No boats will sail on Lake Perfidy in winter it will fill
In summer it will be a swamp and all the fish will kill
But the Government of the USA has corrected George's vow
The father of our country must be wrong what's an Indian anyhow
As long as the moon shall rise (look up) as long as the rivers flow (are you thirsty)
As long as the sun will shine (my brother are you warm) as long as the grass shall grow
Johnny Cash's song "As Long As The Grass Shall Grow" portrays the struggles faced by the Seneca Indian tribe of the Iroquois nation in the face of broken treaties and government political maneuvers. The lyrics highlight the tenuous relationship between the Senecas and the United States, as delineated by the story of Corn Planter, an Iroquois chief who trusted in the newly formed US government's promise of peace and respect for Native American rights. However, the government soon reneged on their promise, and the Senecas were forced to deal with the construction of the Kinzu Dam, which would flood their sacred land and ancestral burial grounds.
The lyrics present a vivid picture of the devastation caused by the dam, with sacred land turned into muddy flats and fish populations destroyed. Cash's use of rhetorical questions such as "what is that gurgling?" and "what's an Indian anyhow?" serve to underscore the troubling legacy of broken promises and devastating consequences suffered by the Seneca people. Ultimately, the song's refrain of "as long as the moon shall rise, as long as the rivers flow" serves as a poignant reminder of the Seneca's deep connection to their land, heritage, and traditions.
Line by Line Meaning
As long as the moon shall rise as long as the rivers flow
The promise is to maintain the Seneca's land and rights as long as the moon keeps rising and rivers keep flowing.
As long as the sun will shine as long as the grass shall grow
The promise is to maintain the Seneca's land and rights as long as the sun keeps shining and the grass keeps growing.
The Senecas are an Indian tribe of the Iroquois nation
The Senecas are a tribe of Native Americans from the Iroquois nation.
Down on the New York Pennsylvania Line you'll find their reservation
The Seneca's reservation is located on the border of New York and Pennsylvania.
After the US revolution corn planter was a chief
Corn Planter was made a chief after the American Revolution.
He told the tribe these men they could trust that was his true belief
Corn Planter believed that the United States government could be trusted to keep their promises to the Seneca people.
He went down to Independence Hall and there was a treaty signed
Corn Planter went to Independence Hall and signed a treaty with the United States government.
That promised peace with the USA and Indian rights combined
The treaty promised to combine peace with the United States and the rights of Native American Indians.
George Washington gave his signature the Government gave its hand
George Washington signed the treaty on behalf of the United States government.
They said that now and forever more that this was Indian land
The treaty promised that the land belonged to the Seneca people, now and forever more.
On the Seneca reservation there is much sadness now
The Seneca people are experiencing sadness on their reservation currently.
Washington's treaty has been broken and there is no hope no how
The treaty with the United States government has been broken, and the Seneca people feel hopeless.
Across the Allegheny River they're throwing up a dam
A dam is being built across the Allegheny River.
It will flood the Indian country a proud day for Uncle Sam
The dam will flood the Indian country, and the United States government sees it as a triumph.
It has broke the ancient treaty with a politician's grin
Building the dam has broken the ancient treaty with a politician who is smiling about it.
It will drown the Indians graveyards corn planter can you swim
The dam will flood the graveyards of the Seneca people, and the artist sarcastically asks if Corn Planter can swim to escape it.
The earth is mother to the Senecas they're trampling sacred ground
The Seneca's consider the earth to be their mother, and building the dam is destroying their sacred ground.
Change the mint green earth to black mud flats as honor hobbles down
Building the dam is turning once healthy, mint green earth into black mud flats, which is dishonorable.
The Iroquois Indians used to rule from Canada way south
The Iroquois Indians used to rule the land from Canada to the south.
But no one fears the Indians now and smiles the liar's mouth
The artist suggests that people no longer fear the Indian's and the promises being made are lies.
The Senecas hired an expert to figure another site
The Seneca's hired an expert to find an alternative site for the dam.
But the great good army engineers said he had no right
The army engineers in charge of the dam rejected the expert's alternative site suggestion.
Although he showed them another plan and showed them another way
The expert presented another plan and alternative solution to the army engineers.
They laughed in his face and said no deal Kinuza dam is here to stay
The army engineers rejected the expert's suggestions with disdain and declared that the Kinzua Dam was going to be built, no matter what.
Congress turned the Indians down brushed off the Indians plea
Congress rejected the appeal made by the Seneca's and brushed off their plea.
So the Senecas have renamed the dam they call it Lake Perfidy
The Seneca's renamed the dam to Lake Perfidy because it represented the government's treachery towards them.
Washington Adams and Kennedy now hear their pledges ring
Washington, Adams, and Kennedy have each made pledges about treating the Native American's fairly.
The treaties are safe we'll keep our word but what is that gurgling
The artist is skeptical that these promises will be kept, as they hear a gurgling sound which represents the sound of water from the dam rising.
It's the back water from Perfidy Lake it's rising all the time
The gurgling sound is actually the backwater from Lake Perfidy rising.
Over the homes and over the fields and over the promises fine
The rising water from Lake Perfidy is flooding the Seneca homes and land, breaking the government's promises.
No boats will sail on Lake Perfidy in winter it will fill
The lake won't be used much and will fill in the winter.
In summer it will be a swamp and all the fish will kill
In the summer, the lake will turn into a swamp and kill all the fish.
But the Government of the USA has corrected George's vow
The United States government has gone back on its promise to the Seneca people, despite George Washington's vow to protect their land.
The father of our country must be wrong what's an Indian anyhow
The artist suggests that the government doesn't care about the promises made to Native Americans and doesn't value their culture or way of life.
Lyrics Ā© Peermusic Publishing
Written by: PETER LAFARGE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Victoria Kelly
Johnny Cash Native America mix:
Overheard at a grocery store by someone waiting in line behind a woman speaking on her cellphone in another language . After the woman hangs up, he speaks up.Ā Ā
Man: I didn't want toĀ say anything while you were on the phone, but you're in America now. you need to speak English.
woman: excuse me?
Man: very slow if you want to speak Mexican then go back to Mexico.Ā In America we speak English.
Woman: Sir, I was speaking Navajo. If you want to speak English, go back to England.
Bigtime Springfeel
As long as the moon shall rise as long as the rivers flow
As long as the sun will shine as long as the grass shall grow
The Senecas are an Indian tribe of the Iroquios nation
Down on the New York Pennsylvania Line you'll find their reservation
After the US revolution corn planter was a chief
He told the tribe these men they could trust that was his true belief
He went down to Independence Hall and there was a treaty signed
That promised peace with the USA and Indian rights combined
George Washington gave his signature the Government gave its hand
They said that now and forever more that this was Indian land
As long as the moon shall rise...
On the Seneca reservation there is much sadness now
Washington's treaty has been broken and there is no hope no how
Across the Allegheny River they're throwing up a dam
It will flood the Indian country a proud day for Uncle Sam
It has broke the ancient treaty with a politician's grin
It will drown the Indians graveyards corn planter can you swim
The earth is mother to the the Senecas they're trampling sacred ground
Change the mint green earth to black mud flats as honor hobbles down
As long as the moon shall rise...
The Iroquios Indians used to rule from Canada way south
But no one fears the Indians now and smiles the liar's mouth
The Senecas hired an expert to figure another site
But the great good army engineers said that he had no right
Although he showed them another plan and showed them another way
They laughed in his face and said no deal Kinuza dam is here to stay
Congress turned the Indians down brushed off the Indians plea
So the Senecas have renamed the dam they call it Lake Perfidy
As long as the moon shall rise...
Washington Adams and Kennedy now hear their pledges ring
The treaties are safe we'll keep our word but what is that gurgling
It's the back water from Perfidy Lake it's rising all the time
Over the homes and over the fields and over the promises fine
No boats will sail on Lake Perfidy in winter it will fill
In summer it will be a swamp and all the fish will kill
But the Government of the USA has corrected George's vow
The father of our country must be wrong what's an Indian anyhow
As long as the moon shall rise (look up) as long as the rivers flow (are you thirsty)
As long as the sun will shine (my brother are you warm) as long as the grass shall grow
Krista Gordon
I was born and raised on the reservation , Steamburg NY and still live here, a proud Seneca I will always be.
Chris Beauvais
But yup the demokkkrats still stab us in the back.
Chris Beauvais
But don't forget the left crushed our lands and will still do it.
Paper Hat Society š§© [INFJ-T]
As a white man, I want to sympathize with the Iroquois nation after hearing this song. There's just GOTTA be a way to fix this so Kinzua Dam and the old Seneca land can coexist. Believe me, I want to solve the problem of Lake Perfidy as much as the Senecas of the 20th century.
Lee Huff
@livinthedreamlol
This is about the Allegheny Reservation near Warren, PA. There are actually 2 reservations. The one near Gowanda is the Cattaraugus Reservation, although they both belong to the Seneca Nation. I pass your area almost every day on my run between Youngstown and Buffalo.
Kenneth Longboat
I live on 6Nations n the same here,proud Seneca here also
marchky
one of the best albums ever, if not the best. a must have for anyone with ties and/or compassion for the Native cause.
Marcus Smith
I only have a little bit of native blood and my family settled in the US in the 1620s and it is wrong what we have done to the Natives.
Yuba Mark
I am taking a Native American History class right now. The professor is amazing and you'd swear she is Native (she claims she isnt, but looks like she is... no blood quantum?). She has so much passion for the REAL PEOPLE. I found this song reading about Peter LaFarge and Ira Hayes, whom I originally looked up. I am wiping tears away listening to this song for the third time. I am researching my family roots and am finding that I have Native blood only four generations back but look white as ....
Dave Helm
great. Thank you Johnny for recording and preserving the history of the great Seneca people.