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.
Don't Step On Mother's Roses
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To the old home on the farm
Mother's passed away, what a mournful day
And as my daddy watched
His eyes were filled with pain and hurt
When someone stepped upon a rose
And crushed it in the dirt
"She planted them the day she was my bride
And every time I see a rose, I see her smilin' face
She made my darkest days look bright
'Round the old home place"
"Don't step on Mother's roses, let 'em grow
The way they did since many years ago
They'll bloom for me each year
And I'll have Mother near
Don't step on Mother's roses, let 'em grow"
Years have passed away
And how the old home place has changed
Daddy had to go, we all miss him so
Children pick the roses as they go along the way
But when their petals are abused, I hear my daddy say
"Don't step on Mother's roses," Daddy cried
"She planted them the day she was my bride
And every time I see a rose, I see her smilin' face
She made my darkest days look bright
'Round the old home place"
"Don't step on Mother's roses, let 'em grow
The way they did since many years ago
They'll bloom for me each year
And I'll have Mother near
Don't step on Mother's roses, let 'em grow"
The lyrics of Johnny Cash's song "Don't Step on Mother's Roses" carry a deeply nostalgic and bittersweet tone, where the singer tells the story of returning to his family's farm home after his mother's passing. The song revolves around cherishing the memories of his mother and keeping her legacy alive through the care of the roses she had planted around the old home place.
In the first verse, the singer describes the emotional scene of returning to the farm after his mother's death, where he sees the pain in his father's eyes as someone steps on a rose and crushes it. His father's outburst "Don't step on Mother's roses" reflects the symbolic value of these flowers, which represent the love and memories of his late wife. The second verse portrays the passing years and the changes that come with them, yet "Mother's roses" remain a constant reminder of the family's past and their loved ones who have passed away.
The chorus presents an emotive plea from the father to all those who step on the roses, asking them to respect and preserve the legacy of his late wife. It also reflects the personal value of nature and the sentimentality that the singer and his father attach to the roses, which transcend their material beauty and reflect the deeper meaning that they hold for the family.
Overall, the song is an ode to the beauty and significance of nature, the importance of preserving one's memories, and a powerful reminder that even the smallest things can hold great value and meaning.
Line by Line Meaning
We all were called to come back
The family is summoned to come back to their ancestral farm.
To the old home on the farm
The family goes back to their old house in the farm.
Mother's passed away, what a mournful day
Mother has passed away and it was a sad moment for the family.
And as my daddy watched
As the father of the household looked on.
His eyes were filled with pain and hurt
The father was experiencing emotional pain and sorrow.
When someone stepped upon a rose
The ambiance was disturbed when someone carelessly stepped on a rose.
"Don't step on Mother's roses," Daddy cried
The father ardently reminded everyone not to step on Mother's flowers.
"She planted them the day she was my bride
"Mother lovingly planted the roses on the day we got married."
And every time I see a rose, I see her smilin' face
The father is reminded of the joyful times he spent with his mother by the sight of the roses.
She made my darkest days look bright
His mother made the father glad even during his challenging periods of life.
'Round the old home place"
It is a lovely memory of the farm for the father.
"Don't step on Mother's roses, let 'em grow
He encourages people to let his mother's beloved flowers grow and not to damage them.
The way they did since many years ago
The roses grow freely just like they have for many years.
They'll bloom for me each year
They'll continue to bloom every year, as they have in the past.
And I'll have Mother near
The father will feel close to his mother whenever he is near the roses.
Years have passed away
Many years have passed since the death of the father and mother.
And how the old home place has changed
The farm and the house have undergone changes in that significant period.
Daddy had to go, we all miss him so
The father has passed away, and the family still misses him deeply.
Children pick the roses as they go along the way
The children select some flowers from the garden while they wander through it.
But when their petals are abused, I hear my daddy say
The father's voice is heard when the children handle the flowers roughly.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Unidentified Unidentified
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
jim foulk
Love this sad song , Johnny cash sang so many great songs and this was just one of them
Wes Mallory
Thanks for posting this. I haven't heard these songs for 50 years. Thank you.
Mindingo Ingnorante
That's quite some time! You had the vynil at the time?
Dennis L
This is my first favourit Song from Cash....❤ I hear jonny cash every day when i drive with my car to work... love from germany...🇩🇪
lee jarvis
One of my favourite songs by the late johnny cash I have nearly all his cd's and dvd's and 7 autobiographies.
Dick Knapp
just another song about our mother by a great artist
Joyce Roberts
Thanks for posting this song...have been looking for it for years.
Helly W. Marko
Alway`s the Greatest....
CashPresley32
This song is not in the Fabulous Johnny Cash, but in Songs Of Our Soil.
jim foulk
Yes it is see my other post you can get that CD plus 2 more in 3 CD set