Johnny Cash (born J.R. Cash; February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an… Read Full Bio ↴Johnny Cash (born J.R. Cash; February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an American singer, guitarist, actor, songwriter, author. He is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, having sold more than 90 million records worldwide. Although primarily remembered as a country music icon, his genre-spanning songs and sound embraced rock and roll, rockabilly, blues, folk, and gospel.

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.

Call Me Up
Johnny Cash Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Call me the breeze
I keep blowin down the road
Well now they call me the breeze
I keep blowin down the road
I ain't got me nobody
I don't carry me no load

Ain't no change in the weather

Ain't no changes in me
Well there ain't no change in the weather
Ain't no changes in me
And I ain't hidin from nobody
Nobody's hidin from me
Oh, that's the way its supposed to be

Well I got that green light baby
I got to keep movin on
Well I got that green light baby
I got to keep movin on
Well I might go out to California
Might go down to Georgia
I don't know

Well I dig you Georgia peaches
Makes me feel right at home
Well now I dig you Georgia peaches
Makes me feel right at home
But I don't love me no one woman
So I cant stay in Georgia long

Well now they call me the breeze
I keep blowin down the road
Well now they call me the breeze
I keep blowin down the road
I ain't got me nobody

I don't carry me no load
Oooh Mr Breeze

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Johnny Cash's song "Call Me up" refer to the persona of the singer, the "breeze," and his life on the road. The phrase "call me up" can be interpreted in a few different ways. On one hand, it could be a call for someone to contact the singer, but it could also be an invitation to the listener to see the world through the singer's eyes. The "breeze" refers to the freedom and independence that the singer experiences, as he travels from place to place without any attachments. The lyrics express his contentment and sense of belonging on the open road, as he enjoys the freedom that comes with having no ties, responsibilities, or obligations.

The lyrics also convey a sense of timelessness, as the singer describes how everything around him remains the same, yet he continues to move forward. He expresses his appreciation for the natural world, stating that "there ain't no change in the weather, ain't no changes in me." He also asserts that "nobody's hidin' from me," suggesting that he has no conflicts or enemies, and that he is at peace with everyone he encounters.

Overall, the lyrics to "Call Me up" embody the spirit of the outlaw, the drifter, and the wanderer. Through his words, Johnny Cash conveys a sense of freedom, adventure, and self-reliance, while also highlighting the beauty and simplicity of life on the road.

Line by Line Meaning

Call me the breeze
By referring to himself as the breeze, Johnny Cash means he is carefree and always on the move.

I keep blowin down the road
Cash is always traveling and never staying in one place for too long.

I ain't got me nobody
Cash is not tied down to anyone, and he prefers it that way.

I don't carry me no load
Cash is not burdened by any responsibilities, giving him freedom to go wherever he pleases.

Ain't no change in the weather
The weather is consistent and unchanging, much like Cash's own personality.

Ain't no changes in me
Cash is true to himself, and does not change his ways or his mindset for anyone or anything.

And I ain't hidin from nobody
Cash is not running away or avoiding anyone, and he's not afraid to be himself around others.

Nobody's hidin from me
Cash is straightforward and genuine, and he expects the same from others.

Well I got that green light baby
Cash is free to do what he wants, when he wants, as symbolized by the green light.

I got to keep movin on
Cash cannot stay in one place for too long, and always needs to keep moving.

Well I might go out to California
Cash is open to traveling anywhere, and California is just one of many possibilities.

Might go down to Georgia
Georgia is another option for Cash to travel to.

I don't know
Cash does not have any set plans or itineraries, and is comfortable with this uncertainty.

Well I dig you Georgia peaches
Cash likes the people and the culture in Georgia, specifically referencing the prized peaches of the state.

Makes me feel right at home
Cash feels comfortable and at ease in Georgia.

But I don't love me no one woman
Cash is not interested in settling down with one woman, and prefers to remain single.

So I cant stay in Georgia long
Since Cash is not looking for a committed relationship, he knows he cannot stay in Georgia for an extended period of time.

Oooh Mr Breeze
This line serves as a repeat of the first line, highlighting the importance of Cash's carefree and independent nature.

Lyrics © CARLIN AMERICA INC
Written by: JOHN J CALE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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