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.
Diamonds in the Rough
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
just to pass the time away, before we held our show
I heard a little mission band, playing with all their might
I gave my heart to Jesus, and left the show that night
The day will soon be over
and evening will be gone
no more gems to be gathered
when jesus comes to claim us
and says it is enough
The diamonds will be shinning
no longer in the rough
While reading through the Bible, some wonderous sights I see
I read of Peter, James and John by the sea of Galilee
and Jesus when he found them, he found them mighty tough
they were precious diamonds, to be gathered in the rough
The day will soon be over
and evening will be gone
no more gems to be gathered
so let us all press on
when jesus comes to claim us
and says it is enough
The diamonds will be shinning
no longer in the rough
"Diamonds in the Rough" is a hymn by Johnny Cash that speaks about the importance of spiritual growth and salvation. The song conveys the idea that life is fleeting, and that one should strive to live a virtuous life, lest they be left with nothing but regrets. The first verse narrates the story of the Gospel mission band that Cash encountered while walking out one evening. The music they played made him realize the embodiment of Jesus Christ, prompting him to give his heart to Jesus Christ and refrain from his usual path. He implies that even in a dark world, there are always hope and paths of light that one can take.
The second verse uses characters from the Bible to illustrate the idea of the worth of a person's soul. Cash mentions Peter, James, and John, three of the disciples that Jesus Christ chose to accompany him during his ministry in Galilee. The men were rough, yet precious, and Cash emphasizes that these individuals should be taken as examples of how one's rough edges can be smoothed by faith and spirituality.
Overall, Cash's "Diamonds in the Rough" portrays spirituality as a process of refinement, and the message of the tune is to seek salvation in Jesus Christ, which will yield beautiful fruit that one will behold in the end.
Line by Line Meaning
While walking out one evening, not knowing where to go
Johnny Cash was wandering aimlessly before his show, and stumbled upon a small band playing religious music
just to pass the time away, before we held our show
He was killing time before his performance, and found the mission band to be a way to pass it
I heard a little mission band, playing with all their might
Cash stumbled upon a passionate group of religious musicians, performing with their whole hearts
I gave my heart to Jesus, and left the show that night
After listening to the music, Cash had a religious experience which led him to leave his show and dedicate himself to Jesus
The day will soon be over
Time is running out
and evening will be gone
The end is near
no more gems to be gathered
There will be no more opportunities to find treasure
so let us all press on
We must keep moving forward
when jesus comes to claim us
When we are called to heaven
and says it is enough
When we have lived a life deserving of salvation
The diamonds will be shinning
The good deeds we have done will shine brightly
no longer in the rough
They will no longer be hidden or unrecognized
While reading through the Bible, some wonderous sights I see
Cash feels awed by the revelations he has when he reads the Bible
I read of Peter, James and John by the sea of Galilee
He has read about important figures in Christianity
and Jesus when he found them, he found them mighty tough
He recognizes the strength and resilience of those who follow Jesus
they were precious diamonds, to be gathered in the rough
These people are precious treasures meant to be found and valued
Contributed by Lincoln V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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