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.

Clementine
Johnny Cash Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

(Oh my darling Clementine)
She knew that Cody was the man she wanted but she had waited nearly all her life
Just one more trip to town to tell the boys goodbye
Then he'd be back to take her for his wife (don't you worry) Clementine
Cody saddled up and left his darling then rode to town to celebrate his plan
He told 'em this would be his last carousing

I'm gonna settle down boys if I can (with my darling) Clementine

Someone said it must have been past midnight when Cody had to face a jealous man
Another story goes that no one really knows
But it seems there was a dancehall girl called Nan (don't you tell) Clementine
We do know that the shot or two was heard from some back room
Then there was a silence in the place

Just one more trip to town but all his chips were down
They found Cody lying on his face (softly calling) Clementine
So buddies make a monument to lay down at his head
Sure you hate to leave your pal behind

Mother help your daughter put her wedding dress away
Cause Cody won't be riding back this time (to his darling) Clementine

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Johnny Cash's song Clementine tell the tragic story of Cody and his love interest, Clementine. Clementine knew that Cody was the man she wanted to spend her life with, but she had waited patiently for him to return and take her as his wife. Cody had promised to return after one more trip to town to say goodbye to his friends and settle down with Clementine.

However, things did not go as planned. While in town, Cody got into an altercation with a jealous man, and there was a gunshot. The details are murky, but it seems that a dancehall girl called Nan was involved. When Cody did not return, Clementine and his friends went looking for him, only to find him dead with a gunshot wound.

The song is a poignant reminder of how love and life can be cut short by tragedy. Clementine must now put away her wedding dress and mourn the loss of her beloved Cody. The song conveys a sense of sadness and regret, but also celebrates the enduring power of love.

Line by Line Meaning

(Oh my darling Clementine)
Introduces the song and mentions Clementine, who is the main character.

She knew that Cody was the man she wanted but she had waited nearly all her life
Clementine had been waiting for a long time to be with Cody and knew that he was the man she wanted.

Just one more trip to town to tell the boys goodbye
Cody had to make one last trip to town to say goodbye to his friends.

Then he'd be back to take her for his wife (don't you worry) Clementine
Cody promised Clementine that he would be back to marry her and she should not worry.

Cody saddled up and left his darling then rode to town to celebrate his plan
Cody left Clementine and went to town to celebrate his upcoming marriage to her.

He told 'em this would be his last carousing
Cody informed his friends that he was done with his wild lifestyle and would settle down with Clementine.

I'm gonna settle down boys if I can (with my darling) Clementine
Cody was determined to settle down with Clementine and leave his partying days behind.

Someone said it must have been past midnight when Cody had to face a jealous man
Cody got into an altercation with a man who was jealous of his relationship with a woman.

Another story goes that no one really knows
There are conflicting stories about what happened to Cody.

But it seems there was a dancehall girl called Nan (don't you tell) Clementine
One of the stories suggests that a woman named Nan was involved in Cody's death and that Clementine should not be told about it.

We do know that the shot or two was heard from some back room
Gunshots were heard coming from a back room during the altercation.

Then there was a silence in the place
After the gunshots, the place became silent.

Just one more trip to town but all his chips were down
Cody's luck had run out and he was not able to come back to Clementine.

They found Cody lying on his face (softly calling) Clementine
Cody was found dead, calling out for Clementine as he passed away.

So buddies make a monument to lay down at his head
Cody's friends were asked to create a monument in his memory to be placed at his grave.

Sure you hate to leave your pal behind
Cody's friends were sad to leave him behind but would honor his memory.

Mother help your daughter put her wedding dress away
Clementine would not be getting married to Cody and her mother had to help her put away her wedding dress.

Cause Cody won't be riding back this time (to his darling) Clementine
Cody's death meant that he would not be able to return to Clementine and marry her.

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BILLY MIZE, BUDDY MIZE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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