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.
Cool Water
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Without the taste of water, cool water
Old Dan and I with throats burned dry
And souls that cry for water, cool, clear water
Keep a-movin',
Dan, don't you listen to him,
Dan He's a devil not a man
Dan can you see that big green tree
Where the water's runnin' free
And it's waiting there for you and me
The nights are cool and I'm a fool
Each star's a pool of water, cool water
But with the dawn I'll wake and yawn
And carry on to water, cool, clear, water
The shadows sway and seem to say
Tonight we pray for water, cool, water
And way up there He'll hear our prayer
And show us where there's water, cool, clear, water
Dan's feet are sore he's yearning for
Just one thing more than water, cool, water
Like me I guess he'd like to rest
Where there's no quest for water, cool, clear, water
The song "Cool Water" by Johnny Cash tells the story of a cowboy named Dan and his companion, as they suffer from a lack of water in a barren land. The first verse sets the tone of the song, describing how they have not had any water and how it has affected them. The second verse introduces a character referred to as "he," who many believe is the devil. He tries to trick Dan into giving up and succumbing to the harsh conditions. However, Dan resists and is determined to find water.
The third verse reveals a glimmer of hope, as they spot a big green tree where water is running freely. They are both overjoyed and hopeful that they will finally find relief from the harsh conditions. The fourth verse describes how the night air is cool, and the stars twinkle like pools of water, which brings some comfort to their miserable situation. However, they know they have to continue to search for water.
The fifth verse shows how the cowboy's spirits remain unbroken, even though he's becoming physically exhausted. He continues to search for water, even though he is tired and thirsty. The final verse reveals that Dan's feet are sore, and he longs for a place to rest where water is abundant, just like the cowboy. The song ends on this note of searching and yearning for relief from the relentless thirst.
Overall, "Cool Water" tells of the perseverance of the human spirit, even when faced with harsh and unforgiving conditions. It also highlights the importance of water, which is essential for survival.
Line by Line Meaning
All day I've faced the barren waste
I have faced a desolate and lifeless landscape throughout the day.
Without the taste of water, cool water
I have not had any access to cool and refreshing water.
Old Dan and I with throats burned dry
Both me and my companion, Dan, have parched and dry throats.
And souls that cry for water, cool, clear water
Our spirits are yearning for refreshing, crystal-clear water.
Keep a-movin', Dan, don't you listen to him, Dan
Let's keep moving forward and ignore any negative influences, Dan.
He's a devil not a man
The oppressive heat and lack of water is not a natural obstacle, but something evil.
And he spreads the burning sand with water
Our surroundings are so dry that the sand feels like it's burning, making it difficult for us to walk.
Dan can you see that big green tree
Dan, do you notice that large and verdant tree in the distance?
Where the water's runnin' free
There is a source of water that is flowing freely near that tree.
And it's waiting there for you and me
We can reach that source of water if we keep moving towards the tree.
The nights are cool and I'm a fool
The night air is refreshing and pleasant, and I feel foolish for not resting earlier.
Each star's a pool of water, cool water
I imagine the stars as pools of cool, refreshing water.
But with the dawn I'll wake and yawn
In the morning, I will rouse and stretch after a good night's sleep.
And carry on to water, cool, clear, water
We will persist and continue our journey towards refreshing, clear water.
The shadows sway and seem to say
The shadows created by the stars and moon appear to be moving, and they convey a message.
Tonight we pray for water, cool, water
We offer a prayer for refreshing water to sustain us.
And way up there He'll hear our prayer
We trust that our prayer will be heard by a higher power.
And show us where there's water, cool, clear, water
We hope that our prayer will lead us to discover a source of pure and refreshing water.
Dan's feet are sore he's yearning for
Dan is tired and his feet ache, and he longs for something.
Just one thing more than water, cool, water
Dan desires something beyond just refreshing water.
Like me I guess he'd like to rest
Dan, like me, wants to take a break and rest for a while.
Where there's no quest for water, cool, clear, water
We both desire a place where we do not have to search for refreshing and pure water.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bob Nolan
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