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.
Ballad of the Ark
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who had many a problem before he reached dry land
It ain't easy for a good man to go down no it ain't easy for a good man to go down
On the earth there was trouble sorrow and pain
So the Lord said to Noah I'm gonna make it rain
It ain't easy for a good man to go down no it ain't easy for a good man to go down
Noah gathered his sons and the ark it was raised
Two by two came the animals that they might be saved
Well it rained forty days and it rained forty nights
All the earth it was covered the mountains out of sight
It ain't easy for a good man to go down no it ain't easy for a good man to go down
When the waters receded and the earth it was dry
The Lord said to Noah go forth and multiply
It ain't easy for a good man to go down no it ain't easy for a good man to go down
Yes the Lord made a rainbow way up in the sky
He promised no flood would ever murder you and die
It ain't easy for a good man to go down no it ain't easy for a good man to go down
The Ballad of the Ark is a song that portrays the story of Noah's Ark from the Bible. It begins with the singer telling a story about a good man who had faced many problems before he reached dry land. The song then talks about the troubles, sorrows, and pain on the earth, which leads the Lord to tell Noah that he will make it rain. In these lines, the song highlights the difficulties of being a good man and going through difficult times.
The next part of the song talks about how Noah gathered his sons, and the ark was raised. Two by two, the animals came to be saved. The lyrics suggest that it wasn't an easy task for Noah to build the ark and gather all the animals, emphasizing the hard work and effort required to save them.
The song then chronicles the forty days and forty nights of rain that caused the earth to be submerged under water. The imagery of the mountains being out of sight emphasizes the severity of the flood. Finally, when the waters receded, the Lord told Noah to go forth and multiply, and that he would never flood the earth again, as symbolized by the rainbow in the sky.
Overall, the Ballad of the Ark tells a story of perseverance, faith, and hope. It portrays Noah as a heroic figure who overcame great difficulties and demonstrated his faith in God's promises.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I tell you a story about a good man
I am beginning a story about a noble man who faced many challenges.
Who had many a problem before he reached dry land
The singer of the story faced various issues before finally reaching safety on land.
It ain't easy for a good man to go down no it ain't easy for a good man to go down
It is difficult for a virtuous person to suffer hardships and face defeat.
On the earth there was trouble sorrow and pain
The world was plagued by difficulties, sadness, and anguish.
So the Lord said to Noah I'm gonna make it rain
God spoke to Noah and informed him that there would be a great flood.
Noah gathered his sons and the ark it was raised
Noah gathered his family and built an ark to survive the upcoming flood.
Two by two came the animals that they might be saved
Animals boarded the ark in pairs so that they too may be saved from the impending flood.
It ain't easy
This situation is challenging and requires great effort and perseverance.
Well it rained forty days and it rained forty nights
The flood lasted for forty days and forty nights, bringing heavy rain upon the earth.
All the earth it was covered the mountains out of sight
The floodwaters covered the entire earth, and even the mountains were hidden from view.
When the waters receded and the earth it was dry
After the floodwaters subsided, the earth was left dry once again.
The Lord said to Noah go forth and multiply
God instructed Noah to repopulate the earth with his family and the other survivors of the flood.
Yes the Lord made a rainbow way up in the sky
God created a rainbow in the sky as a symbol of his promise to never again destroy the world by flood.
He promised no flood would ever murder you and die
God made a covenant with humanity that he would never again cause a flood to destroy all life.
It ain't easy for a good man to go down no it ain't easy for a good man to go down
Once again, it is reiterated that it is difficult for a righteous person to endure suffering or defeat.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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