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.
Closing Medley: Folsom Prison Blues/I Walk The Line/Ring Of Fire/The Re
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's rollin' 'round the bend,
I ain't seen the sunshine,
Since, I don't know when,
Lord, I'm stuck in Folsom Prison,
And time keeps draggin' on,
And that train keeps a-rollin',
On down to San...
Let's give her a big hand, June Carter
Helen, Anita, and Mother Mabel, the Carter family
I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
I keep my eyes wide open all the time.
I keep the ends out for the tie that binds
Because you're mine,
I walk the line
The Stabler Brothers
I fell into a burnin' ring of fire
I went down, down, down
And the flames went higher,
And it burns, burns, burns,
The ring of fire, the ring of fire.
Mr Carl Perkins
Well when I was just a baby,
My Mama told me, "Son,
That I want you to be a good boy,
I don't want you to play with guns,"
But I shot a man in Reno,
I shot him just to watch him die, Lord he dead
Now that train keeps rollin'
I hang my head down and cry.
Johnny Yuma was a rebel
He roamed through the west
And Johnny Yuma, the rebel
He wandered alone.
He got fightin' mad
This rebel lad
He packed no star
As he wandered far
Where the only law
Was a hook and a draw.
The rebel, Johnny Yuma.
I want to thank you, for being so good to us
I'd like to say a special hello to all the men here in the prison
That are not with us tonight
That they couldn't, find a key to the door or something
They couldn't let a bunch of them out here
I wish everyone of you could have been out here with us
All you guys.
I understand they're piping the show into your cells or somewhere
That's supposed to be listening, or maybe,
It's not closed circuit television that you have in here is it?
Anyway, hello to all you fellas who can't be here,
We wish you could have all been here
We have had a ball, have we not?
Well, if they freed me from this prison,
If that railroad train was mine,
I bet I'd move it on a little,
Farther down the line,
Far from Folsom Prison,
That's where I want to stay,
And I'd let that lonesome whistle,
Blow my Blues away.
Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash, and the Tennessee three
Carl Perkins, the Carter Family, the Statler Brothers
Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
Thank you very much, good night
The lyrics to Johnny Cash feat. Glen Campbell's song Medley portray a somber mood through the first few stanzas, as Cash sings about being stuck in Folsom Prison and the endless passing of time. The lyrics visualize a man who is haunted by his past and constantly looking towards a brighter future. He then transitions to "I Walk the Line," which is a declaration of his loyalty to someone he loves. The song talks about wanting to maintain a relationship, even if it means making sacrifices.
Cash continues his medley by singing "Ring of Fire," a song about the intense passion and desire he has for a woman who has captured his heart. The lyrics are vividly sensual and represent the all-consuming desire the singer feels. Soon after, he sings "Folsom Prison Blues," which features the story of a man who murdered someone and regrets his choices. Finally, in "The Rebel Johnny Yuma," we hear about the wandering cowboy, Johnny Yuma, who roamed through the west, fighting injustice and oppression.
Overall, the song Medley combines different emotions and stories into one meaningful composition, each song carrying its unique message.
Line by Line Meaning
I hear the train a comin', It's rollin' 'round the bend, I ain't seen the sunshine, Since, I don't know when, Lord, I'm stuck in Folsom Prison, And time keeps draggin' on, And that train keeps a-rollin', On down to San...
The singer, a prisoner stuck in Folsom Prison, hears the sound of a train coming and feels trapped in his current situation, with time dragging on as the train rolls on to its destination.
Let's give her a big hand, June Carter
The audience is encouraged to applaud June Carter for her contribution to the performance.
Helen, Anita, and Mother Mabel, the Carter family
The singer recognizes the members of June Carter's family who are present at the show.
I keep a close watch on this heart of mine, I keep my eyes wide open all the time. I keep the ends out for the tie that binds Because you're mine, I walk the line
The singer is devoted to his lover, vowing to stay faithful and committed by keeping a watchful eye on his own behavior and keeping himself accountable.
The Stabler Brothers
The Stabler Brothers are acknowledged as part of the show's musical lineup.
I fell into a burnin' ring of fire I went down, down, down And the flames went higher, And it burns, burns, burns, The ring of fire, the ring of fire.
The singer describes his passionate and all-consuming love for someone, comparing it to being like a ring of fire.
Mr Carl Perkins
Mr. Carl Perkins is recognized as one of the performers in the show.
Well when I was just a baby, My Mama told me, "Son, That I want you to be a good boy, I don't want you to play with guns," But I shot a man in Reno, I shot him just to watch him die, Lord he dead Now that train keeps rollin' I hang my head down and cry.
The singer reflects on his life and how he ignored his mother's advice, eventually resorting to violence and feeling regretful about it while still in prison.
Johnny Yuma was a rebel He roamed through the west And Johnny Yuma, the rebel He wandered alone. He got fightin' mad This rebel lad He packed no star As he wandered far Where the only law Was a hook and a draw. The rebel, Johnny Yuma.
The singer tells the story of Johnny Yuma, a rebel who travels the American West alone, becoming angry and confrontational when faced with injustice or unfairness.
I want to thank you, for being so good to us I'd like to say a special hello to all the men here in the prison That are not with us tonight That they couldn't, find a key to the door or something They couldn't let a bunch of them out here I wish everyone of you could have been out here with us All you guys. I understand they're piping the show into your cells or somewhere That's supposed to be listening, or maybe, It's not closed circuit television that you have in here is it? Anyway, hello to all you fellas who can't be here, We wish you could have all been here We have had a ball, have we not?
The singer thanks the audience and sends a special message to the inmates who could not be present at the show, expressing his wish that they could have been there to share the experience and acknowledging the difficulties of life inside the prison system.
Well, if they freed me from this prison, If that railroad train was mine, I bet I'd move it on a little, Farther down the line, Far from Folsom Prison, That's where I want to stay, And I'd let that lonesome whistle, Blow my Blues away.
The singer fantasizes about being freed from prison and having control of the train, wanting to put as much distance between himself and Folsom Prison as possible and enjoy the freedom of the train journey.
Johnny Cash
The singer signs off with his name.
Johnny Cash, and the Tennessee three Carl Perkins, the Carter Family, the Statler Brothers Johnny Cash
The performers are thanked and credited by name as the show comes to an end.
Thank you very much, good night
The performer thanks the audience one final time and signals that the show is over.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@hewanderedalone324
One of the best things I ever did hear.
@patriot4786
Gold