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.
Christmas Spirit
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And peace to men on earth
On Christmas Eve I dreamed I traveled all around the earth
And in my dream I saw and heard the ways the different people
Hail the king whose star shone in the east and what a dream it was
In London Town I walked around Piccadilly Circus
On every face at every place was, "Hurry up, I'm late"
But a kind old man at a chestnut stand said, "Merry Christmas mate"
And I felt the Christmas spirit
In a little town nestled down in Bavaria Germany
I walked along to see what the feeling there would be
And here again was the busy din, the rushin', the yellin'
But some kind boy said, "Frohliche Weihnachten"
Not understanding the words but gettin' the buyin' and sellin'
I felt the Christmas spirit
In Bethlehem I heard a hymn, some distant choir sang
And with other tourists I walked along to a Church as its bells rang
Then I heard someone tell someone, "There's where Christ was born"
I wonder if He looked like our baby looked on that first morn
And then I really felt the Christmas spirit
From a businessman in the Holy Land at a sidewalk souvenirshop
I bought a little Bible since I'd already stopped
And it was in Paris France somehow by chance that I took the Bible out
As I flipped the pages I saw these words
And I knew what it was all about
For I read, "Fear not for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy
Which shall be to all people
For unto you He was born this day in the City of David, a Saviour
Which is Christ the Lord"
Then I took the little Holy Book, held it close and tight
I closed my eyes and visualized the glory of that night
So suddenly it came to me for when I awoke on Christmas Day
I felt the Christmas spirit down deep inside to stay
O little town of Bethlehem how still we see Thee lie
Above Thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by
Yet in Thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in Thee tonight
The Christmas Spirit by Johnny Cash is a beautiful song that speaks of traveling through different towns and witnessing how people celebrate Christmas. The song starts with the traditional phrase, "Praises sing to Christ the King and peace to men on earth," reminding listeners of the origin of Christmas. The lyrics then describe a dream in which Johnny travels to different places and observes how people from different cultures and lands celebrate Christmas.
In London, amidst the chaos of Piccadilly Circus, Johnny meets a kind old man who wishes him a Merry Christmas. In Bavaria, he hears a boy say, "Frohliche Weihnachten" and feels the spirit of Christmas. In Bethlehem, he hears a distant choir and witnesses the birthplace of Christ. As he continues on his journey, from the Holy Land to Paris, he reads from the little Bible he had bought and realizes the true meaning of Christmas.
Despite experiencing different cultures and traditions, Johnny deeply feels the Christmas spirit within him. The song concludes with a beautiful rendition of "O Little Town of Bethlehem," where Johnny expresses how the hopes and fears of all the years are met in Christ.
The lyrics of The Christmas Spirit remind us that no matter where we come from or what traditions we follow, the hope and spirit of Christmas is the same. The song is a beautiful reminder to all of us to slow down and appreciate the true meaning of Christmas.
Line by Line Meaning
Praises sing to Christ the King
Let us sing praises to Jesus our King
And peace to men on earth
And pray for peace on Earth for all mankind
On Christmas Eve I dreamed I traveled all around the earth
On a Christmas Eve, I had a dream of journeying around the world
And in my dream I saw and heard the ways the different people
In my dream, I experienced how different people celebrated Christmas
Hail the king whose star shone in the east and what a dream it was
People praised the King whose star appeared in the East, and it was a fantastic dream
In London Town I walked around Piccadilly Circus
I strolled through Piccadilly Circus in London
A mass of people movin' here and there, I wondered where
Many people moved in all directions, and I didn't know where they were going
On every face at every place was, "Hurry up, I'm late"
Everyone looked hurried, and I could hear them say, "I'm getting late."
But a kind old man at a chestnut stand said, "Merry Christmas mate"
However, a compassionate old man at a chestnut stall greeted me with "Merry Christmas mate."
And I felt the Christmas spirit
And I realized the warmth of Christmas spirit despite the hurry and rush of the people
In a little town nestled down in Bavaria Germany
I visited a small town located in Bavaria, Germany
I walked along to see what the feeling there would be
I explored to find out what Christmas felt like at that place
And here again was the busy din, the rushin', the yellin'
Nevertheless, I could hear the noise of frantic people bustling around
But some kind boy said, "Frohliche Weihnachten"
But a gentle boy wished me a "Merry Christmas" in German
Not understanding the words but gettin' the buyin' and sellin'
Although I didn't understand the language, I could sense the commerce and trade surrounding me
I felt the Christmas spirit
Amidst the confusion, I experienced the warm feeling of Christmas spirit
In Bethlehem I heard a hymn, some distant choir sang
I listened to a hymn sung by a remote choir in Bethlehem
And with other tourists I walked along to a Church as its bells rang
Accompanied by other visitors, I walked to a church while its bells rang
Then I heard someone tell someone, "There's where Christ was born"
Then someone told a story about Christ's birthplace
I wonder if He looked like our baby looked on that first morn
I imagined whether baby Jesus looked like our infants during his first morning
And then I really felt the Christmas spirit
I sensed the heartfelt emotion of Christmas spirit at that moment
From a businessman in the Holy Land at a sidewalk souvenir shop
Later, I bought a little Bible from a businessman in the Holy Land, who was selling souvenirs on the streets
I bought a little Bible since I'd already stopped
As I was already there, I decided to buy a Bible
And it was in Paris France somehow by chance that I took the Bible out
Coincidentally, I took out the Bible while I was in Paris, France
As I flipped the pages I saw these words
I started reading the Bible, and I read the following words
And I knew what it was all about
I realized the significance behind the story
For I read, "Fear not for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy
The text read, "Don't be afraid. I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.
Which shall be to all people
"This news is for all people who seek it"
For unto you He was born this day in the City of David, a Saviour
A Saviour, Christ the Lord, was born on this very day in the City of David
Then I took the little Holy Book, held it close and tight
I took the small Bible in my hands and held it close to my heart.
I closed my eyes and visualized the glory of that night
I closed my eyes and tried to imagine the divine glory of that night
So suddenly it came to me for when I awoke on Christmas Day
As if all at once, I felt the Christmas spirit deeply within when I woke up on Christmas Day
I felt the Christmas spirit down deep inside to stay
The warmth of Christmas spirit lived within me from that moment on
O little town of Bethlehem how still we see Thee lie
Oh, how peaceful is Bethlehem as we see it lying so still
Above Thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by
The stars move quietly above your deep and peaceful slumber
Yet in Thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light
But, in your dark alleys, a more long-lasting light glows steadily
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in Thee tonight
For tonight, all the hopes and fears of the entire world are visited upon you, Bethlehem
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Anonymous
on Wayfaring Stranger
Wayfaring Stranger - The New Appalachians - Lyrics
I am a poor wayfaring stranger
Traveling through this world alone
There will be no sickness, toil or danger
In that grand land to which I roam
Well I'm going home to see my mother
I'm going home to a morning rose
I'm only goin' over Jordan
I'm only goin' over home
Musical Interlude
I know dark clouds will gather 'round me
I know my way is rough and steep
And beautiful fields lie just before me
Where God's redeemed there vigils keep
Well I'm going home to see my brothers
I'm going home no more to roam
I'm only goin' over Jordan
I'm only goin' over home
Musical Interlude
I'm going home to see my Father
I'm going home no more to roam
I'm only goin' over Jordan
I’m only goin’ where no one roams
I want to wear that crown of glory
When I get to that good land
I want to shout out salvation story
In concert with that blood washed band.
I'm going there to see my saviour
I’ll see his face no more to roam
I'm only going over Jordan
I'm only going over home
I'm only goin' over home