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.
Can't Help But Wonder Where I'm Bound
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't know where I'm bound
Whistles calling me away
Leaving at the break of day and
I don't know where I'm bound
Can't stand locks, bars or doors
Mean cops insanity and wars
Till then much travellin' on seas
But I don't know where I'm bound
There's gotta be a place for me
Under some green growing tree
Clear cool water running by
An unfettered view of the sky
But I don't know where I'm bound
When I die don't bury me
Cause then I must be free
Cremate my body with a grin
Throw my ashes to the wind
Cause I don't know where I'm bound
I don't know where I'm bound
I don't know where I'm bound
Whistles calling me away
Leaving at the break of day and
I don't know where I'm bound
Got myself a little gall
She has been a damn right pall
That ol' highway's calling me
And free I gotta be but
I don't know where I'm bound
In Johnny Cash's song "Can't Help But Wonder Where I'm Bound," the singer expresses his uncertainty about his destination and future. The lyrics suggest that he is a wanderer seeking a place of peace, yet he does not know where he is headed. The whistles calling him away represent his restlessness and desire to keep moving, leaving behind anything that may restrict or oppress him, such as locks, bars, doors, and authority figures like cops or military. He specifically mentions "mean cops" and "insanity and wars," perhaps reflecting his distrust or disdain for institutions that promote aggression and violence.
The lyrics suggest that the singer seeks simplicity and natural beauty, as exemplified by his desire to find a place under a green growing tree, with clear cool water and an unfettered view of the sky. These details paint a picture of a peaceful, idyllic setting that contrasts with the chaos and uncertainty he faces on his journey. However, the fact that he does not know where he is bound suggests that he may never find such a place or that it remains elusive, always out of reach.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't know where I'm bound
I am unsure of where my journey in life will lead me
Whistles calling me away
The allure of adventure and the open road is too strong to resist
Leaving at the break of day and
Starting my journey early in the morning, with a sense of urgency
Can't stand locks, bars or doors
I cannot bear the restrictions placed upon me by authority and society
Mean cops insanity and wars
Law enforcement, madness, and conflict are oppressive forces in life
Gotta find a place of peace
I am searching for a tranquil and harmonious existence
Till then much travellin' on seas
Until I find that serene place, I must continue to wander and explore
There's gotta be a place for me
I firmly believe that there is a location where I truly belong
Under some green growing tree
This ideal place for me is surrounded by lush foliage
Clear cool water running by
In close proximity to my haven is a refreshing stream
An unfettered view of the sky
My idyllic scene consists of an unobstructed view of the heavens
When I die don't bury me
At the end of my life, I desire a unique form of farewell
Cause then I must be free
Even in death, I insist on absolute independence and liberation
Cremate my body with a grin
My final request is to be incinerated with a smile on my face
Throw my ashes to the wind
My remains are to be scattered to the elements without reservation
Got myself a little gall
I have found a female companion who has been a loyal and caring friend
She has been a damn right pall
She has consistently provided me with support and comfort during times of hardship
That ol' highway's calling me
I feel the irresistible pull of the open road and my journey must continue
And free I gotta be but
Despite my desire for freedom, I am still uncertain of where my destiny lies
I don't know where I'm bound
My sense of direction and purpose in life is still unclear
I don't know where I'm bound
My journey and ultimate destination remain a mystery to me
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Tom Paxton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ugliness Personified
:Lyrics:
It's a long and dusty road, It's a hot and a heavy load
and the folks I meet ain't always kind
Some are bad and some are good
Some have done the best they could
Some have tried to ease my troubled mind
And I can't help but wonder
Where I'm bound, where I'm bound
Can't help but wonder where I'm bound
I've been wanderin' through this land just a-doin' the best I can
Tryin' to find what I was meant to do
And the people that I see look as worried as can be
And it looks like they are wonderin' too (To Chorus)
And I can't help but wonder
Where I'm bound, where I'm bound
Can't help but wonder where I'm bound.
Well, I had a little girl one time, she had lips like sherry wine
And she loved me till my head went plumb insane
But I was too blind to see she was driftin' away from me
And my good gal went off on the morning train (To Chorus)
And I can't help but wonder
Where I'm bound, where I'm bound
Can't help but wonder where I'm bound.
If you see me passing by and you sit and you wonder why
and you wish that you were rambling too
Nail your shoes to the kitchen floor, lace 'em up and bar the door
Thank your stars for the roof that's over you
And I can't help but wonder
Where I'm bound, where I'm bound
Can't help but wonder where I'm bound.
pingpongHarry
**easy GUITAR playing chords **
Can't Help But Wonder Where I'm Bound .
Intro: Dm G C Am Dm G C
G
It's a long and dusty road
Dm Am
It's a hot and heavy load
G7 C
And the folks I meet ain't always kind
G
Some are bad and some are good
Dm Am
Some have done the best they could
G7 C
Some have tried to ease my trouble in mind
Dm G C Am
And I can't help but wonder where I'm bound, where I'm bound
Dm G C
Can't help but wonder where I'm bound
G
I've been wandering through this land
Dm Am
Just doin' the best I can
G7 C
Trying to find what I was meant to do
G
And the people that I see
Dm Am
Look as worried as can be
G7 C
And it looks like they are wand’rin’ too
G
But I had me a buddy back home
Dm Am
And he started off to roam
G7 C
Now he’s out, gone to Frisco Bay
G
And sometimes when I've had a few
Dm Am
His old voice comes ringin' through
G7 C
And yes I'm goin' out to see him some old day
G
If you see me passin' by
Dm Am
And you sit and you wonder why
G7 C
And you wish that you were a rambler, too
G
nail your shoes to the kitchen floor
Dm Am
Lace'em up and bar the door
G7 C
Thank your stars for the roof that's over you
Paul Bradford Songs
I love Johnny's version of just about everything he does. But this is really beautiful and touching. Like it was written for him. That was his gift. He could take "any" song and make it his own. Paul
jimbob1
I've just heard this song recently and I'm 60, this is fantastic so sad melancholic, God I'm crying as I write this, R.I.P the great Johnny Cash.
Samuel Estepp
I’m a great grandfather and I’ve listened to Johnny all my life and the older he got the better he was
Weeby ReZ
He aged like great wine❤️
VickyLane
What beautiful lyrics ~ and Johnny Cash's voice was the perfect one to sing them. Thank you for posting this ... I am going to buy the CD it came from.
Jacob Hunnell
I'm already a Cash fan. This is one of my favorites of all time. Powerful
Jake Ellis
This song is the story of my life. God Bless Johnny Cash R.I.P
Michael Sahr
It’s like a prayer. It’s Not just a song. It’s an essential truth. The voice and the way he sings it is in perfect harmony.
Jo Rik
Beautifully performed. The best track on the album, if you ask me.
Charlie D
I love this song it's helped me with some of the most troubling times in my life