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.
Dark as the Dungeon
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Seek not your fortune in the dark dreary mine
It'll form as a habit and seep in your soul
'Till the stream of your blood runs as black as the coal
Where it's dark as a dungeon, damp as the dew
Danger is double, pleasures are few
Where the rain never falls, the sun never shines
Well it's many a man, that I've seen in my day
(No laughing during the song please)
(It's been recorded I know, hell)
(Don't you know it's recorded)
Like a fiend with his dope,
And a dropper with his wine
A man will have less for the lure of the mine
And, I pray when I'm dead and the ages shall roll
That my body would blacken and turn into coal
Then I'll look from the door of my heavenly home
And pity the miner digging my bones
Where it's dark as a dungeon, damp as the dew
Danger is double and the pleasures are few
Where the rain never falls, the sun never shines
It's dark as a dungeon way down in the mine
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much.
Sorry about that little interruption there, but I just
Want to tell you that this show is being recorded for an album
Release on Columbia Records and you can't say hell or shit or anything like that
How's that grab you Bob?
The song "Dark as the Dungeon" by Johnny Cash paints a vivid picture of the harsh realities of working in the mines. The lyrics address young people and warn them against seeking their fortune in the mines, as the work will become a habit and take over their soul until their blood runs as black as coal. The imagery of the darkness, dampness, danger, and lack of sunlight paints a bleak and grim picture of the miners' lives. The second stanza furthers this imagery by comparing the lure of the mine to addictive substances, and the miners to fiends and droppers. The final stanza is a plea that when the singer is dead, his body will turn into coal so that he can look down from his heavenly home and pity the miners who are digging his bones.
The song was written by Merle Travis, who was inspired to write it after working in the coal mines of Kentucky for a time in the 1940s. Johnny Cash's version was recorded for his album "Sings the Songs That Made Him Famous" in 1958. The song was also featured in the 1967 film "Bonnie and Clyde," and has subsequently been covered by numerous artists.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, come all you young fellers, young and so fine
Listen to me, young men, and heed my warning
Seek not your fortune in the dark dreary mine
Don't pursue wealth by working in the dangerous, dreary mine
It'll form as a habit and seep in your soul
The grueling work and tragedy of the mine will become a part of you
'Till the stream of your blood runs as black as the coal
The physical and emotional toll of mining will consume you until you are a shell of yourself
Where it's dark as a dungeon, damp as the dew
Working in the mine means being in a dark, damp, and oppressive environment
Danger is double, pleasures are few
The risks are high and the rewards are minimal
Where the rain never falls, the sun never shines
In the depths of the mine, there is no natural light or escape from the harsh conditions
It's dark as a dungeon way down in the mine
The mine is a place of complete darkness and despair
Well it's many a man, that I've seen in my day
I have witnessed many men fall victim to the mine
Like a fiend with his dope,
Their pursuit of mining wealth consumes them like an addiction
And a dropper with his wine
Similar to a person dependent on alcohol, miners can become slaves to the mine
A man will have less for the lure of the mine
The pursuit of mining riches often results in even greater losses
And, I pray when I'm dead and the ages shall roll
If and when I die, I hope my body becomes coal
That my body would blacken and turn into coal
Being a part of the mine is so much a part of me that even my remains should be part of its substance
Then I'll look from the door of my heavenly home
From the afterlife, I will observe the miners who are digging my bones
And pity the miner digging my bones
I will understand and feel sorry for the miners who are laboring in the same cycle of misery I was once in
Thank you very much.
End of the song
Thank you very much.
End of the performance
Sorry about that little interruption there, but I just
Apology for the brief disturbance
Want to tell you that this show is being recorded for an album
Informing the audience that the performance is being recorded
Release on Columbia Records and you can't say hell or shit or anything like that
Instructing the audience on what language is not permissible for the recorded performance
How's that grab you Bob?
A question directed at someone named Bob
Lyrics © Kanjian Music
Written by: Merle Travis
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