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.
Belshazzar
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who ruled Babylon and all its land.
Around the city, he built a wall
And declared that Babylon would never fall.
He had concubines and wives,
He called his Babylon "Paradise."
On his throne he drank and ate,
But for Belshazzar it was gettin' late.
For he was weighed in the balance and found wanting,
His kingdom was divided, couldn't stand.
He was weighed in the balance and found wanting,
His houses were built upon the sand.
Well, the people feasted and drank their wine
And praised the false gods of his time.
All holy things they scorned and mocked,
But suddenly all their mocking stopped.
For on the wall, there appeared a hand,
Nothin' else, there was no man.
In blood the hand began to write,
And Belshazzar couldn't hide his fright.
For he was weighed in the balance and found wanting,
His kingdom was divided, couldn't stand.
He was weighed in the balance and found wanting,
His houses were built upon the sand.
Well, no one around could understand
What was written by the mystic hand.
Belshazzar tried, but couldn't find
A man who could give him peace of mind.
But Daniel, the prophet, a man of God,
He saw the writing on the wall in blood.
Belshazzar asked him what it said,
And Daniel turned to the wall and read:
"My friend, you're weighed in the balance and found wanting,
Your kingdom is divided, it can't stand.
You're weighed in the balance and found wanting,
Your houses are built upon the sand."
In Johnny Cash's song "Belshazzar," he draws inspiration from the biblical tale of Belshazzar, the king of Babylon. The story is recounted in the book of Daniel in the Old Testament. According to the Bible, Belshazzar was a ruler of Babylon who believed that his city was invincible. He had fortified the city with a great wall and threw lavish feasts, where he ate and drank excessively. In the song, Cash describes these details, stating that Belshazzar had many wives and called Babylon his "Paradise."
However, the song takes a menacing turn when a hand suddenly appears and writes a mysterious message on the wall in blood. Despite Belshazzar's attempts to understand the meaning behind the writing, he cannot find anyone who can interpret it. It is only when the prophet Daniel appears that the message is revealed. Daniel explains that the writing signifies that Belshazzar's kingdom will fall, that he has been weighed in the balance and found wanting.
The song speaks to the fleeting nature of power and wealth, and how they can be easily lost, even when we believe ourselves to be invincible. The message of the writing on the wall is a reminder that everything is ultimately impermanent and transient, and that all of our accomplishments and possessions will one day crumble away.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, the bible tells us about a man
The Bible recounts the story of a man
Who ruled Babylon and all its land.
This man was the ruler of all of Babylon.
Around the city, he built a wall
He constructed a wall surrounding the city
And declared that Babylon would never fall.
He proclaimed that Babylon would withstand any attack.
He had concubines and wives,
The ruler had many companions and spouses.
He called his Babylon "Paradise."
He referred to his kingdom as Paradise.
On his throne he drank and ate,
He enjoyed food and drink while sitting on his throne.
But for Belshazzar it was gettin' late.
However, time was running out for Belshazzar.
For he was weighed in the balance and found wanting,
Belshazzar was evaluated and found to be lacking.
His kingdom was divided, couldn't stand.
His kingdom was fragmenting and unstable.
Well, the people feasted and drank their wine
The subjects of the ruler celebrated with food and drink.
And praised the false gods of his time.
They revered and worshipped false deities.
All holy things they scorned and mocked,
They ridiculed and disrespected all things that were holy.
But suddenly all their mocking stopped.
Their behavior abruptly ceased.
For on the wall, there appeared a hand,
A hand materialized on the wall.
Nothin' else, there was no man.
There was nothing else present besides the hand.
In blood the hand began to write,
The hand started to inscribe something in blood.
And Belshazzar couldn't hide his fright.
Belshazzar was unable to disguise his fear.
Well, no one around could understand
No one present could interpret the writing on the wall.
What was written by the mystic hand.
The contents of the writing were mysterious and perplexing.
Belshazzar tried, but couldn't find
Belshazzar attempted to find someone who could explain the writing.
A man who could give him peace of mind.
He was searching for a person who could reassure and comfort him.
But Daniel, the prophet, a man of God,
However, a prophet named Daniel who was a faithful man of God was present.
He saw the writing on the wall in blood.
Daniel was able to read the inscription written in blood.
Belshazzar asked him what it said,
Belshazzar inquired with Daniel to learn the meaning.
And Daniel turned to the wall and read:
Daniel turned to the wall and recited the message.
"My friend, you're weighed in the balance and found wanting,
The writing on the wall stated that Belshazzar was evaluated and found deficient.
Your kingdom is divided, it can't stand.
The kingdom was in a state of fragmentation and would not hold together.
You're weighed in the balance and found wanting,
Again, the writing indicated that Belshazzar was evaluated and inadequate.
Your houses are built upon the sand."
The inscription concluded that his empire's foundation was unstable and unreliable.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: WOLFGANG HOFMANN, FRANZ DANZI
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