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.
Children Go Where I Send Thee
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How shall I send thee?
I'm gonna send thee two by two
Two by Paul and Silas
One by the little bitty baby
Born, born, born in Bethlehem
How shall I send thee?
I'm gonna send thee three by three
Three by the Hebrew children
Two by Paul and Silas
One by the little bitty baby
Born, born, born in Bethlehem
Children go where I send thee
Children, how shall I send thee?
I'm gonna send thee four by four
Four by four that stood at the door
Three by the Hebrew children
Two by Paul and Silas
One by the little bitty baby
Who was born, born, born in Bethlehem
Children go where I send thee
How shall I send thee?
I'm gonna send thee five by five
Five by the five it couldn't get by
Four by the four that stood at the door
Three by the Hebrew children
Two by Paul and Silas
One by the little bitty baby
Born, born, born in Bethlehem
Children go where I send thee
How shall I send thee?
I'm gonna send thee six by six
Six by the six that couldn't get fixed
Five by the five couldn't get by
Four by the four that stood at the door
Three by the Hebrew children
Two by Paul and Silas
One by the little bitty baby
Who was born, born, born in Bethlehem
Six by the six, couldn't get fixed
Five by the five that couldn't get by
Four by the four that stood at the door
Three by the three for the Hebrew children
Two by two for Paul and Silas
One by the little bitty baby
Who was born, born, born in Bethlehem
Who was born, born, born in Bethlehem
Yes, He was born, born, born in Bethlehem
The song "Children Go Where I Send Thee" is a traditional African-American spiritual that has been rearranged by many artists over the years. Johnny Cash, in collaboration with the Carter Family, recorded his version in 1962. The song is repetitive in nature, with a catchy call-and-response format. Each verse follows a pattern where Cash asks the question, "How shall I send thee?" and proceeds to give an answer by listing groups of people he wants the children to join.
The first verse mentions two people that Cash would like to send the children to, Paul and Silas, who are characters from the New Testament. The second verse goes on to add three more groups, including the Hebrew children, who refer to the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the Book of Daniel. The number of people in each verse increases, reaching a total of six in the final verse. Each time Cash mentions a new group of people, he repeats the previous ones as well, in descending order.
The song can be interpreted as a metaphor for the spreading of spiritual faith and the idea that people of all backgrounds should come together under one belief. The repetition of these groups can also be seen as a symbol for continuity, reminding the listener that these people and their stories are interconnected. The final line reminds us that the little bitty baby born in Bethlehem is the one that ties them all together, emphasizing the importance of this child as a unifying figure in Christianity.
Line by Line Meaning
Children go where I send thee
I have control over where and how these children will go.
How shall I send thee?
In what manner should I send these children?
I'm gonna send thee two by two
I'll be sending two children together.
Two by Paul and Silas
I'll be sending Paul and Silas as a pair.
One by the little bitty baby
One child will be the newborn baby.
Born, born, born in Bethlehem
The baby was born in Bethlehem.
I'm gonna send thee three by three
I'll be sending three children together.
Three by the Hebrew children
Three children will be from the Hebrew tradition.
Children, how shall I send thee?
How should I send these children?
I'm gonna send thee four by four
I'll be sending four children at once.
Four by four that stood at the door
Four children who were previously waiting at the door will be sent.
I'm gonna send thee five by five
I'll be sending five children at the same time.
Five by the five it couldn't get by
Five children weren't able to go before, but now they will go.
I'm gonna send thee six by six
I'll be sending six children together.
Six by the six that couldn't get fixed
Six children who were previously unable to come will now be able to come.
Who was born, born, born in Bethlehem
Referring to the baby who was born in Bethlehem.
Yes, He was born, born, born in Bethlehem
Confirming that the baby was indeed born in Bethlehem.
Lyrics ยฉ BMG Rights Management, Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: TRADITIONAL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@memecine
The Johnny Cash Show with Carl Perkins, The Statler Brothers, Mother Maybelle, June Carter & the Carter Family, all backed up The Tennessee Three. This was a staple of Johnny's live shows in the 70s, which had been on tour in this configuration since the mid 60s, a gospel number everybody joined in for, "Children Go How I Send Thee", performed here live on Danish television.
Cash was at the pinnacle of his career in these years, drug free and starring in his own ABC television show from 1969 to 1971. This is the track that can be heard on "Man in Black: Live in Denmark 1971".
Man In Black: Live in Denmark 1971
A Boy Named Sue โ Johnny Cash
Sunday Morning Coming Down โ Johnny Cash
I Walk the Line โ Johnny Cash
Blue Suede Shoes โ Carl Perkins
Matchbox โ Carl Perkins
Me and Bobby McGee โ Johnny Cash
Guess Things Happen That Way โ Johnny Cash
Bed of Roses โ The Statler Brothers
Flowers on the Wall โ The Statler Brothers
Folsom Prison Blues โ Johnny Cash
Darlinโ Companion โ Johnny Cash & June Carter Cash
If I Were a Carpenter โ Johnny Cash & June Carter Cash
Help Me Make It Through the Night โ Johnny Cash & June Carter Cash
Man in Black โ Johnny Cash
Introduction to The Carter Family
A Song to Mama โ The Carter Family
No Need to Worry โ Johnny Cash, The Carter Family & The Statler Brothers
Rock of Ages โ Johnny Cash, The Carter Family & The Statler Brothers
Children, Go Where I Send Thee โ Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, The Carter Family & The Statler Brothers
@andrewmielke4011
This ain't just a song, it's a musical experience, with an all star cast, one of the best performances I heard in my life
@SeekingHisWill
๐ amen to that โค
@darrellkreutziger7034
Who needs a Broadway experience when there is !! Impressive!
@secordman
Saw this for the first time, greatness never dies.
@edwinsmith2827
That is just sooooo good!!
@juniormint3136
My first time seeing/hearing this, too it's awesome.
@mysticmaverick1
I've been a Cash fan for a long time but this is the first time I've seen this. What a stunning performance by Johnny, the Carter Family, the Statler Brothers, Carl Perkins and the Tennessee Three. I listened to it over and over. I love the way Johnny dances when Carl is singing his part, love Carl's guitar playing. The Carters sing like angels. Just recently discovered how fabulous the Statlers are too.
@chrisstonewarth1263
You got it ๐
@jj23256
Who sings the part where she sings 9x9?
@rolandelek1358
@@jj23256Anita Carter, she was Juneโs older sister.