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.
Country Trash
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But the ground's too wet for the hopper now
Got a cultivator and a double tree
A leather line for the haw and gee
Let the thunder roll and the lighting flash
I'm doing alright for country trash
I'm saving up dimes for a rainy day
The wind's from the south and the fishing's good
Got a potbelly stove and a cord of wood
Mama turns the left-overs into hash
I'm doing alright for country trash
I got a mackinaw and a hunting dog
A cap that I ordered from the catalog
A big tall tree that shades the yard
A big fat sow for the winter's lard
Let the thunder roll and the lighting flash
I'm doing alright for country trash
Well, there's not much new ground left to plow
And crops need fertilizing now
My hands don't earn me too much gold
For security when I grow old
But we'll all be equal under the grass
And God's got a heaven for country trash
God's got a heaven for country trash
I'll be doing alright for country trash
The song "Country Trash" by Johnny Cash is a celebration of a simple, rural lifestyle. The lyrics tell the story of a man who is content with what he has, despite not having much. He describes his possessions, including his plow, cultivator, and leather line. He talks about saving up dimes for a rainy day, and how Mama turns leftovers into hash. He's got a hunting dog, a cap from the catalog, a big tall tree, and a big fat sow for winter's lard. Cash uses these descriptions to paint a picture of contentment and simplicity.
The chorus of the song emphasizes this feeling of contentment. Cash sings about how he's doing alright for country trash, no matter how much thunder rolls or lightning flashes. He acknowledges that he may not have much in the way of money or possessions, but he's happy with what he's got.
One interesting aspect of "Country Trash" is that it was written by Cash himself. In fact, the song was one of the last that Cash wrote while he was still serving in the Air Force. Another interesting fact is that it was recorded for the first time in 1961, but only released in 1972. The song was included on the album "A Thing Called Love," and became a popular anthem for Cash's fans.
Line by Line Meaning
I got a crib full of corn and a turning plow
I have a barn full of corn and a plow to till the land
But the ground's too wet for the hopper now
The soil is too wet to feed corn into the plow
Got a cultivator and a double tree
I have a tool to prepare the land for planting and horses' harness to work on the fields
A leather line for the haw and gee
I have a leather lead line to control horses and tell them to start (gee) or stop (haw)
Let the thunder roll and the lighting flash
I am unfazed by the tumultuous behavior of nature
I'm doing alright for country trash
I may be deemed by some to be of low social status but I am content with my life
I'm saving up dimes for a rainy day
I save up money for times of need
I got about a dollar laid away
I have a small amount of cash saved up
The wind's from the south and the fishing's good
The south wind is bringing good fishing conditions
Got a potbelly stove and a cord of wood
I have a stove to keep warm and a supply of firewood
Mama turns the left-overs into hash
My mother makes hash out of food scraps
I'm doing alright for country trash
My quality of life is respectable despite my social standing
I got a mackinaw and a hunting dog
I have a coat to keep warm during winter and a dog to help me hunt
A cap that I ordered from the catalog
I bought a hat from a magazine
A big tall tree that shades the yard
I have a large tree in my yard that provides shade
A big fat sow for the winter's lard
I have a large pig that will provide me with fat for cooking during winter
Let the thunder roll and the lighting flash
I am not scared of nature's fury
I'm doing alright for country trash
I am content with my way of life despite being considered low class
Well, there's not much new ground left to plow
There is not much fertile land left for planting
And crops need fertilizing now
The crops need to be fertilized in order to yield a good harvest
My hands don't earn me too much gold
My job doesn't pay me very much
For security when I grow old
I need financial security for my old age
But we'll all be equal under the grass
In death, all social distinctions will cease to exist
And God's got a heaven for country trash
God has a place in heaven for those who are considered of low social status
God's got a heaven for country trash
God has a place in heaven for those who are considered of low social status
I'll be doing alright for country trash
I'll be content with my life despite being considered of low social status
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: John 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