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.
Breaking Bread
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We are gathered here together to break bread
Breaking bread, breaking bread
We are gathered here together to break bread
It's not the barley or the wheat
It's not the oven or the heat
That makes this bread so good to eat
Breaking bread, breaking bread
We are gathered here together to break bread
Breaking bread, breaking bread
We are gathered here together to break bread
Upon the water prayed his cast
The last is first, the first is last
For everyone who eats this bread
There are thousands maybe more that will be fed
Breaking bread, breaking bread
We are gathered here together to break bread
Breaking bread, breaking bread
We are gathered here together to break bread
Breaking bread, breaking bread
We are gathered here together to break bread
The song "Breaking Bread" by Johnny Cash is a reflection on the communal act of sharing bread. The song begins with the repetition of the phrase "Breaking bread" to emphasize the importance of this act as not just a physical action but a symbolic one as well. Cash sings about how it is not simply the ingredients or the cooking process that make the bread so enjoyable, but rather the act of kneading and sharing that makes the meal complete. This notion of sharing and communal gathering is further exemplified by the line "We are gathered here together to break bread."
The song then shifts into a more spiritual message as Cash describes casting his prayers onto the water with the phrase "Upon the water prayed his cast." This alludes to the Christian symbol of Jesus multiplying the bread to feed thousands, as mentioned in the line "For everyone who eats this bread, there are thousands maybe more that will be fed." The overall message of the song is that the act of sharing bread not only fulfills a physical need but also satisfies a spiritual one by connecting people in a communal act of nourishment.
Line by Line Meaning
Breaking bread, breaking bread
We recognize the importance of breaking bread together, and we repeatedly express this as our gathering proceeds.
We are gathered here together to break bread
We are coming together to share a meal and the moment. Our bonds are strengthened through this shared experience.
It's not the barley or the wheat
The quality of the bread is not simply due to the raw ingredients.
It's not the oven or the heat
The quality of the bread is not simply due to the baking process or the tools used in the baking process.
That makes this bread so good to eat
There is something deeper and more meaningful that contributes to the bread's quality and appeal.
It's the needing and the sharing that makes the meal complete
What makes the meal complete is not simply the act of consuming food, but rather the deeper experience of needing each other and sharing in this ritual.
Upon the water prayed his cast
This reference to fishing is symbolic of the idea of casting out one's hope and faith into the world.
The last is first, the first is last
This line reminds us of the importance of humility and the idea that all people are equal in the eyes of the divine.
For everyone who eats this bread
This identifies the specific people who are participating in this shared meal and ritual.
There are thousands maybe more that will be fed
This highlights the idea that this shared experience has the potential to feed many beyond those individuals present at this moment.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: DIANE LAMPERT, PAUL OVERSTREET
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Melody W.
I have never heard this song before, and it is so beautiful. Thank you sharing it and for creating this lovely video for it, Beanscot.
kitchencounterculture
Your photo montage is very beautiful and moving, and I thank you for taking the time to do this!
beanscot
You're welcome!
Jack Adams
What a beautiful share....thank you so kindly
beanscot
Thank you for the verse.
Beary Good Beans
Exquisit visuals, thank you from TOronto!
beanscot
You’re welcome!
faithunseen123
Your videos are a treasure!I hope you dont mind if I share them for others to enjoy?
o7jimmy
Awesome.
julesriding
A rare gem..