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 (nรฉe 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 ShyโDrager 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 ShyโDrager, 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.
Blue Christmas
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll have a blue blue Christmas without you I'll be so blue thinking about you
Decorations of red on a green Christmas tree
Won't mean a thing if you're not here with me
I'll have a blue Christmas that's certain
And when those blue blue heartaches start hurtin'
You'll be doing alright with your Christmas of white but I'll have a blue blue Christmas
(I'll have a blue blue Christmas without you I'll be so blue thinking about you)
Won't mean a thing if you're not here with me
(I'll have a blue Christmas that's certain
And when those blue blue heartaches start hurtin')
You'll be doing alright with your Christmas of white but I'll have a blue blue Christmas
(A blue blue Christmas without you)
The lyrics of Johnny Cash's song Blue Christmas describe a person's feelings of loneliness and longing during the holiday season due to the absence of a loved one. The singer sings about how their Christmas will be blue, referring to the sadness they feel. They visualize the traditional decorations of red on a green Christmas tree, but they won't bring them any joy because their loved one is not present. The singer acknowledges the certainty of their blue Christmas and anticipates that the heartaches will begin. They recognize that the person they miss will be doing well with their "Christmas of white," but they will still be feeling blue without them.
The recurring use of the color blue throughout the lyrics emphasizes the singer's sadness and deep sense of longing. The contrasts between the red and green decorations and the white Christmas of the absent loved one highlight the starkness of the singer's emotions. It's a song many can relate to, especially those who have lost someone or are separated from someone they love during the holidays. Overall, the lyrics capture a sense of heartbreak and isolation during a time of year that is typically associated with warmth, love, family, and togetherness.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll have a blue blue Christmas
I will be very sad and feel lonely during Christmas without you.
I'll have a blue blue Christmas without you I'll be so blue thinking about you
The absence of my significant other will make me feel empty and sad during Christmas.
Decorations of red on a green Christmas tree
The colorful decorations on the Christmas tree will not bring me joy and happiness in your absence.
Won't mean a thing if you're not here with me
The festive decorations and traditions will have no significance to me since my loved one won't be here to share them with me.
I'll have a blue Christmas that's certain
I am certain that I will be feeling sad and lonely during Christmas because you won't be here with me.
And when those blue blue heartaches start hurtin'
When I start feeling the ache and pain of your absence, it will be unbearable.
You'll be doing alright with your Christmas of white but I'll have a blue blue Christmas
Even though you will be celebrating Christmas, I will still feel sad and lonely without you.
(I'll have a blue blue Christmas without you I'll be so blue thinking about you)
Repeating the same feeling of emptiness and sadness without my partner during the holiday season.
A blue blue Christmas without you
Christmas without my significant other will be a depressing and sorrowful time for me.
Lyrics ยฉ BMG Rights Management, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Billy Hayes, Jay Johnson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
juliorock11
Super voice!!!! Fantastic!!!!
JOHNNY CASH MEU IDOLO MAIOR!!
๐บ๐ฒ๐ฑโโ๏ธโค๐ฆ๐ป๐โญ๐โญ๐โญ
Damon D74
God the memories, happy holidays to all.
__jesse_pinkman__22
Miss you Johnny ๐ค
Johnny Cash
Wow thanks for the likes and comments since when you have been a fans Johnny love you all๐โค๏ธ. Where are you from
The MetroGnome (Demo's)
Brill! Great version! :)
jaysonTv
Awesome ๐๐ idol Johnny Cash..
Wilbi Mcshane
A blue Christmas indeed.
Yenney Rossi
Affascinante canzone stupenda interpretazione caro Johnny Cash ๐ผ๐๐ Grazie infinite alla persona responsabile della condivisione ๐ Complimenti e applausi ๐ ๐ Buon fine settimana โ๐๐น Ciao ๐ฎ๐นโ๏ธ
Saverio Magnatta
Concordo pienamente, grande Johnny. Da lassรน ci allieta le giornate belle e brutte
Johnny Cash
Wow thanks for the likes and comments since when you have been a fans Johnny love you all๐โค๏ธ. Where are you from