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.
Cup of Coffee
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I been drivin' haulin' load of grain all day long
Got about three more hundred miles to go
And well I just dropped in to have a cup of coffee friend
Yeah I just dropped in to have a cup of coffee friend
Don't you offer me none of that whiskey don't need no wine
Gotta get that semi down the line
How's Flo you still married to old Flo ain't you ha ha ha
Well just coffee thank you thank you very much
Whoa whoa well well it will cool it down a little bit what is it man
D'you make it yourself I like to hear you yodel
Just dropped in to have a cup of coffee friend
Sound good on that man that's the best part right there hope we ain't wakin' up Flo
Hey Flo old Flo she's a good 'un boy no I didn't mean nothin'
I just you know I knew Flo a long time ago we went to school together you know
Well I just dropped in to have a cup of coffee friend
Yeah dropped in to have a cup of coffee friend
In don't in the glass you gonna pour it in the glass whoa whoa whoa that's enough
Man put ice in and it's gonna run over whoa whoa
Man you got it all over the tablecloth makin' that stuff yourself
If that's what makes you yodel it's good to me
Just dropped in to have a cup of coffee friend
Dropped in to have a cup of coffee friend
Don't give me none of your liquor I don't want no wine
Gotta get that semi down the line I gotta haul a load of grain
Bout three hundred more miles I gotta get up and get out of here
If I can just find my cat my hat get outta here cat darn cat
No that's alright I can make it I can make it
I can make it alright mama say I can make it leave me alone
Whoa stepped right in her flowerbed oh she gonna raise cain tomorrow
Where's my truck at cause I thought I had it cross the street
Or on this side of the street alright you got an extra room
She won't mind okay you sure now put the blanket down around my feet
Get me up by six o'clock cause I don't want Flo catch me sleepin' in here
Boy she can flat raise your nose ha ha just let my arms hang loose
Warm as I can be I wants just to get me up about eight o'clock
And I'll have a cup of coffee 'cause you know Flo too
Yeah just dropped in to have a cup of coffee friend
Jack yodel for me one more time fore I go to sleep
I sure like to hear you yodel Jack Elliot
The lyrics of the song “A Cup of Coffee” by Johnny Cash are a conversation between two truck drivers who meet at Jack Elliot's place for a cup of coffee. The opening lines express the joy of one person upon seeing Jack Elliot singing, yodeling, and playing the guitar after a long day of work hauling grain. The person asks for a cup of coffee only, refusing whiskey and wine because he still has a long way to go to complete his delivery. During the conversation, the two discuss old times and rekindle their friendship while Jack Elliot prepares the coffee. One of the drivers expresses appreciation for Elliot's yodeling and asks him to do it one last time before he falls asleep.
The lyrics of the song evoke a feeling of simplicity and warmth, with a focus on conversations, friendship, and simple pleasures like drinking coffee. Hence, the song aims at connecting with the audience by painting a simple yet familiar scenario that can resonate with anyone who ever wanted a break or just someone to talk to. The lyrics also glorify the kind of casual socializing that used to be common in small towns and communities, where even strangers could become friends over a cup of coffee.
Line by Line Meaning
Man it sure is good to hear you singin' and yodelin' and pickin' again Jack Elliot
It's great to have the pleasure of hearing your singing, yodeling, and picking once again, Jack Elliot.
I been drivin' haulin' load of grain all day long
I have spent the entire day hauling a load of grain while driving.
Got about three more hundred miles to go
I still have got almost three hundred miles left to cover.
And well I just dropped in to have a cup of coffee friend
I came here just to grab a cup of coffee, my dear friend.
Yeah I just dropped in to have a cup of coffee friend
Yes, only to have a cup of coffee, I stopped by here.
Don't you offer me none of that whiskey don't need no wine
I am in no mood for whiskey or wine; do not offer it to me, please.
Gotta get that semi down the line
I need to hit the road and drive the semi down the line.
Sure good to see you again Jack been a long time now
It feels amazing to meet you after a long time, Jack.
How's Flo you still married to old Flo ain't you ha ha ha
How's Flo? You're still married to her, right? Haha.
Well just coffee thank you thank you very much
Thank you, but all I need is just a cup of coffee.
Whoa whoa well well it will cool it down a little bit what is it man
What is it, man? Please cool it down a bit.
D'you make it yourself I like to hear you yodel
Did you make it yourself? I love to hear you yodel.
Sound good on that man that's the best part right there hope we ain't wakin' up Flo
It sounds great, man. That's the best part right there! I hope we're not waking Flo up.
Hey Flo old Flo she's a good 'un boy no I didn't mean nothin'
Flo's a good woman, and I didn't mean anything else, boy.
I just you know I knew Flo a long time ago we went to school together you know
I just mean that I have known Flo since childhood, and we went to school together, you know.
In don't in the glass you gonna pour it in the glass whoa whoa whoa that's enough
Hey, don't pour it directly into the glass! Whoa, whoa! That's enough!
Man put ice in and it's gonna run over whoa whoa
Man, if you put ice in it, it's going to overflow! Whoa, whoa!
Man you got it all over the tablecloth makin' that stuff yourself
You have made a mess on the tablecloth by making it yourself, man!
If that's what makes you yodel it's good to me
If making this stuff is what makes you yodel, it's alright by me.
Don't give me none of your liquor I don't want no wine
I don't want any liquor and wine, so don't give me any.
Bout three hundred more miles I gotta get up and get out of here
I need to wake up and get out of here, as I have to drive for around 300 more miles.
If I can just find my cat my hat get outta here cat darn cat
If I can only find my cat and my hat, we can leave. Darn cat!
No that's alright I can make it I can make it
No problem, I can make it all by myself.
Whoa stepped right in her flowerbed oh she gonna raise cain tomorrow
Oh no, I have stepped into her flower bed! She will definitely create a fuss tomorrow.
Where's my truck at cause I thought I had it cross the street
Where did my truck go? I thought it was somewhere across the street.
Or on this side of the street alright you got an extra room
Maybe it is on this side of the street. Do you have an extra room, by the way?
She won't mind okay you sure now put the blanket down around my feet
It's okay; she won't mind. Are you sure? Well, then put the blanket down around my feet.
Get me up by six o'clock cause I don't want Flo catch me sleepin' in here
Please wake me up by six o'clock, as I don't want Flo to find me sleeping here.
Boy she can flat raise your nose ha ha just let my arms hang loose
Ha ha, she can surely get on your case! Just let my arms hang loose.
Warm as I can be I wants just to get me up about eight o'clock
I want to be warm and cozy, and I only want to wake up at eight o'clock.
And I'll have a cup of coffee 'cause you know Flo too
I will have one more cup of coffee, as you know Flo likes coffee too.
Yeah just dropped in to have a cup of coffee friend
Yes, my dear friend, I came here just to have a cup of coffee.
Jack yodel for me one more time fore I go to sleep
One last time, please sing and yodel for me, Jack, before I go to sleep.
I sure like to hear you yodel Jack Elliot
I really enjoy listening to you sing and yodel, Jack Elliot.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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