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.
Cry Cry Cry
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I think you only live to see the lights of town
I wasted my time when I would try, try, try
When the lights have lost their glow you're gonna cry, cry, cry
I lie awake at night to wait till you come in
You stay a little while and then you're gone again
Every question that I ask I get a lie, lie, lie
You're gonna cry, cry, cry and you'll cry alone
When everyone's forgotten and you're left on your own
You're gonna cry, cry, cry
Soon your sugar-daddies will all be gone
You wake up some cold day and find you're alone
You'll call for me but I'm gonna tell you bye, bye, bye
When I turn around and walk away you'll cry, cry, cry
When your fickle love gets old, no one will care for you
And you'll come back for me for a little love that's true
I'll tell you no and you're gonna ask me why, why, why
When I remind you of all of this and you'll cry, cry, cry
You're gonna cry, cry, cry and you'll want me then
It'll hurt when you think of all the fool you've been
You're gonna cry, cry, cry
The lyrics of Johnny Cash's song "Cry Cry Cry" describe the story of a woman who is only interested in city lights and her romantic affairs. The singer is infatuated with the woman, but she is dishonest and keeps lying to him. The chorus of the song warns the woman that she will end up crying alone when she is abandoned by her sugar daddies, and nobody will care for her anymore. In the end, she will realize the gravity of her mistakes and come back to the singer, but he will refuse to be with her and remind her of all the pain she has caused him.
The lyrics are a reminder that relationships built on deceit can never last, and the person who cheats and lies will ultimately suffer the consequences. The song's repetitive chorus of "cry, cry, cry" intensifies the sense of remorse, sadness, and regret. The singer's commitment to himself despite being in love with the woman indicates that self-respect is essential, and one must be strong enough to let go of toxic relationships.
Overall, "Cry Cry Cry" is a cautionary tale that exposes the dangers of manipulation and betrayal in love affairs. It's a simple yet powerful song that conveys a universal message about the fragility of human emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
Everybody knows where you go when the sun goes down
Your reputation precedes you; everyone knows you only come out at night.
I think you only live to see the lights of town
Your desire for city life and its luxuries consumes you.
I wasted my time when I would try, try, try
I was foolish to attempt to win your love repeatedly and constantly failed.
When the lights have lost their glow you're gonna cry, cry, cry
When your superficial lifestyle no longer satisfies you, you'll be left with nothing and regret your choices.
I lie awake at night to wait till you come in
I stay up all night waiting for you, always hoping that you'll stay with me for longer than just a little while.
You stay a little while and then you're gone again
You never stick around for long or show any real commitment to me.
Every question that I ask I get a lie, lie, lie
You constantly deceive me and never tell the truth, no matter how many times I ask.
For every lie you tell you're gonna cry, cry, cry
The truth will eventually catch up to you and you'll regret all the lies you told me.
You're gonna cry, cry, cry and you'll cry alone
You'll end up alone and realize that no one truly cares for you.
When everyone's forgotten and you're left on your own
When people have moved on from you and you have no one left in your life.
Soon your sugar-daddies will all be gone
The people who financially support you won't stick around forever.
You wake up some cold day and find you're alone
One day you'll realize that all those people you surrounded yourself with were never really there for you.
You'll call for me but I'm gonna tell you bye, bye, bye
When you come crawling back to me, I'll turn you away and leave you to deal with the consequences of your actions.
When I turn around and walk away you'll cry, cry, cry
You'll weep and be filled with regret as you watch me walk away from you.
When your fickle love gets old, no one will care for you
Your superficial love will eventually fade and no one will want to be with you.
And you'll come back for me for a little love that's true
When you inevitably become lonely, you'll seek out the genuine love and care that I offered you.
I'll tell you no and you're gonna ask me why, why, why
I'll refuse to take you back and you'll beg for an explanation as to why I won't forgive you.
When I remind you of all of this and you'll cry, cry, cry
When I bring up all the hurtful things you've done to me, you'll be filled with remorse and sorrow.
You're gonna cry, cry, cry and you'll want me then
When you're at your lowest point, you'll realize how much you need me and how much you hurt me.
It'll hurt when you think of all the fool you've been
You'll feel immense pain and regret when you finally realize all the mistakes you made and the people you hurt.
You're gonna cry, cry, cry
You'll be filled with sorrow and regret over your past actions.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Johnny Cash
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Aj_Drago
This comment is a proof that I witnessed this incredible masterpiece today
@JesusMorales-er4cy
Used to think this song would come true for me
Then she got married with kids and I’m here reminiscing at 3am haha
Such is life 👌🏽
@logannnn
L
@SWIM-02354
@@logannnnkick a man while he's down would ya? 😂
@TheMegaPipi
This is a perfect song for a new Silent Hill movie trailer.
@nothingnobody6688
Johnny warns us over an over yet nobody see's
@muntazrmahdi9668
Such a golden song,i hope this song doesn't get used on tiktok
@manny6511
Hello I'm johnny cash
@braydonattoe2078
I wish
@rowdyrick1995
Don’t you mean, “Sue?“