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.
Billy & Rex & Oral & Bob
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The great super preachers go crusadin' on
And the people all gather in big congregations
They hear of the Saviour who came to atone
And they kneel at the altar and they walk away happy
Then the devil starts gossip about money and sex
Makin' it hard on the good men of God like Billy and Bob and Oral and Rex
Old Billy Sunday is dead and gone young Jim Robertson's comin' on strong
Millions of people tune in Katherine Coolman
And see her face shine with an unearthly light
Garner Ted warns of the world of tomorrow
But they criticized him and the reverend died
'Cause the devil is after the great super preachers
He'd try to discredit the gospel they bring
But Billy and Rex and Oral and Bob hold to their commitment to Jesus the King
Old Billy Sunday is dead and gone young Tommy Barnett is comin' on strong
And Billy and Rex and Oral and Rex are talkin' about Jesus and doin' their job
Old Billy Sunday is dead and gone young Jimmy Snow is comin' on strong
And Billy and Rex and Oral and Bob are talkin' about Jesus and doin' their job
The lyrics to Johnny Cash's song "Billy & Rex & Oral & Bob" speak to the subject of faith, the role of preachers, and the detractors that come with the territory. The song speaks of the "great super preachers" who go on crusades, preaching the gospel of Jesus to large congregations of people who come to hear them speak. The preachers mentioned in the song, Billy, Rex, Oral, and Bob, are depicted as good men of God who are committed to their role as messengers of the gospel.
However, the song also alludes to the controversy that surrounds these preachers, particularly regarding "money and sex" which the devil uses to try and discredit the work they are doing. Despite the attacks, the preachers resolve to carry on with their mission to spread the word of Jesus. The song further notes the rising popularity of younger preachers like Jim Robertson, Tommy Barnett, and Jimmy Snow, who are following in the footsteps of those who came before them.
Line by Line Meaning
Ordained for proclaimin' the gospel of Jesus
These great super preachers were chosen by God to spread the message of Jesus
The great super preachers go crusadin' on
These preachers travel around the country to preach to large groups of people
And the people all gather in big congregations
Huge crowds come to hear the preachers speak
They hear of the Saviour who came to atone
The preachers tell the people about Jesus who came to save them from their sins
And they kneel at the altar and they walk away happy
People feel joyful and fulfilled after experiencing the message of salvation
Then the devil starts gossip about money and sex
The devil tries to corrupt the good work of the preachers by spreading rumors and lies about them
Makin' it hard on the good men of God like Billy and Bob and Oral and Rex
The devil makes it difficult for these men of God to continue their work by slandering them
Old Billy Sunday is dead and gone young Jim Robertson's comin' on strong
A new generation of preachers is emerging, with Jim Robertson being one of them
And Billy and Rex and Oral and Bob are talkin' about Jesus and doin' their job
Despite the challenges they face, these preachers remain committed to spreading the Gospel of Jesus
Millions of people tune in Katherine Coolman
Many people are drawn to the message of another famous preacher, Katherine Coolman
And see her face shine with an unearthly light
People are captivated by her otherworldly charisma and presence
Garner Ted warns of the world of tomorrow
Another preacher, Garner Ted, warns of the potential troubles the future may hold
But they criticized him and the reverend died
Garner Ted faces intense criticism and backlash, which eventually leads to the death of another preacher
'Cause the devil is after the great super preachers
The devil continues to target these influential preachers, seeking to undermine their work
He'd try to discredit the gospel they bring
The devil will stop at nothing to discredit the message of these preachers
But Billy and Rex and Oral and Bob hold to their commitment to Jesus the King
Despite the devil's attempts to thwart their mission, these preachers remain steadfast in their faith
Old Billy Sunday is dead and gone young Tommy Barnett is comin' on strong
Another emerging preacher, Tommy Barnett, is gaining popularity following in the footsteps of Billy Sunday
And Billy and Rex and Oral and Rex are talkin' about Jesus and doin' their job
In the face of constant opposition, these preachers persevere in spreading the good news about Jesus
Old Billy Sunday is dead and gone young Jimmy Snow is comin' on strong
Another young preacher, Jimmy Snow, is also gaining recognition and following in the footsteps of Billy Sunday
And Billy and Rex and Oral and Bob are talkin' about Jesus and doin' their job
These preachers continue to spread the word of Jesus, undeterred by the ongoing challenges they face
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHNNY R. CASH
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