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.
Come on Stranger
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's good to have you home
I hurried through 'cause I knew it was you
When I saw your dog, waggin' his tail
Honey, why didn't you let me know by mail
You've been gone so long
She said come in stranger
Just sit right there in your easy chair
And tell me all about the places you've been
How long it'll be before you leave again
I hope it's a long, long while
She said come in stranger
Everything 'round home is fine
I've watched and I've waited for you to get back
And I missed you all the time
She said come in, stranger
Oh how I miss you when you're gone
I walk the floor and I watch the door
And when I lie awake and wonder where you can be
I'd give anything to have you here with me
I get so lonesome all alone
She said come in, stranger
And won't you listen to my plea
Stay long enough, so that the one I love
Is not a stranger to me
The song "Come in Stranger" by Johnny Cash is a heartfelt ballad about a man who returns home after a long time away. He is greeted by his significant other, who is excited and happy to see him. She welcomes him home and invites him in, expressing how much she has missed him during his absence. The lyrics paint a picture of a warm and inviting home, and the song emphasizes the importance of communication and staying connected with loved ones.
The song is structured as a conversation between the two characters, with the woman expressing her love and longing for her partner. The lyrics are simple, yet powerful, and the melody is warm and comforting. The line "Stay long enough, so that the one I love is not a stranger to me" sums up the underlying message of the song - that it is important to maintain connections with those we love, even when we are far away.
Overall, "Come in Stranger" is a touching and relatable song about the joy of returning home after a long time away and the importance of staying connected with loved ones.
Line by Line Meaning
She said come in stranger
The singer is greeted warmly by the woman whom he has come to visit.
It's good to have you home
The woman is happy that the singer has returned home.
I hurried through 'cause I knew it was you
The woman recognized the singer's presence because of his dog wagging its tail.
Honey, why didn't you let me know by mail
The woman wishes that the singer had informed her about his visit beforehand.
You've been gone so long
The woman acknowledges that the singer has been away for a while.
I know you're weary from all the miles
The woman understands that the singer is tired after traveling so much.
Just sit right there in your easy chair
The woman invites the singer to rest and relax in his chair.
And tell me all about the places you've been
The woman wants to hear about the singer's travels and experiences.
How long it'll be before you leave again
The woman is curious to know when the singer will depart once more.
I hope it's a long, long while
The woman wishes that the singer doesn't have to leave again anytime soon.
Everything 'round home is fine
The woman assures the singer that everything has been going well at home.
I've watched and I've waited for you to get back
The woman has been eagerly anticipating the singer's return.
And I missed you all the time
The woman admits that she has been missing the singer in his absence.
Oh how I miss you when you're gone
The woman confesses that she feels lonely when the singer is away.
I walk the floor and I watch the door
The woman paces and waits anxiously for the singer's return.
And when I lie awake and wonder where you can be
The woman finds it hard to sleep and worries about the singer's whereabouts.
I'd give anything to have you here with me
The woman longs to be with the singer and would do anything to have him by her side.
I get so lonesome all alone
The woman feels sad and lonely when the singer is not around.
And won't you listen to my plea
The woman asks the singer to pay attention to what she has to say.
Stay long enough, so that the one I love is not a stranger to me
The woman implores the singer to stay for a while so that they can reconnect and not become strangers to each other.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JOHNNY CASH
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