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 You Think It's Come Our Time
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Far into September
But I had no one to give the flowers to
I needed the celebration
of September coronation
And I admitted to myself I needed you
I've watched the gentle winds changeThe colored shades of meadows
I've seen the dillon flowers
That had no name
But I let my vase stay empty
Like my old and empty heart
Picking flowers for yourself is not the same
Don't you think its come our time to be together
Lets gather up our scattered words of love
And make them rhyme
Lets go pick some flowers and fill our empty vases
Don't you think its come our time?
Would you take the small bouquet that leaves a fragrance on my fingers
And the feeling that your love is close at hand
Thank you for the flowers
Now lets walk through the meadows
To the road where our divines caress the sand
Don't you think its come our time to be together
Lets gather up our scattered words of love
And make them rhyme
Lets go pick some flowers now and fill our empty vases
Don't you think its come our time?
Don't you think its come our time?
The song "Don't You Think It's Come Our Time" by Johnny and June Carter Cash speaks of love, longing, and the desire for companionship in old age. The lyrics describe the singer picking wild roses in September, a moment intended to be celebratory, but which feels empty without someone to share it with. The singer admits to needing the person listening, and desires a connection that goes beyond superficial gestures like picking flowers. The lyrics further describe the changing of the seasons and the beauty of the natural world, but with an underlying sense of loneliness and longing for companionship.
The chorus of the song is a plea to the person listening, suggesting that it is time for them to be together, to gather their "scattered words of love" and make them rhyme. The idea of picking flowers becomes a metaphor for taking action towards love and filling the empty spaces in their lives. The song ends with the singer offering a bouquet to the person listening and a desire to walk together to a place where they belong.
Overall, the song is a tender expression of loneliness and the desire for love and companionship in old age. It speaks to the universal human experience of longing for connection and how even small gestures and actions can speak volumes about the depth of one's feelings.
Line by Line Meaning
I have picked wild roses
I went out and gathered some flowers
Far into September
It was a late time in the year
But I had no one to give the flowers to
There was no one special who I wanted to give the flowers to
I needed the celebration of September coronation
I wanted to celebrate the beauty of the season
And I admitted to myself I needed you
I realized that I wanted to share this beauty with someone special
I've watched the gentle winds change
I have observed how nature changes over time
The colored shades of meadows
The colors of the surrounding fields
I've seen the dillon flowers that had no name
I have noticed the unnamed flowers growing in the fields
But I let my vase stay empty like my old and empty heart
Despite seeing the beauty around me, I felt empty inside
Picking flowers for yourself is not the same
Experiencing beauty alone is not as fulfilling as sharing it with someone else
Don't you think its come our time to be together
I feel that it is time for us to be together
Lets gather up our scattered words of love and make them rhyme
Let's express our love for each other in a meaningful and coherent way
Lets go pick some flowers and fill our empty vases
Let's experience the beauty of nature together and find fulfillment in each other's company
Would you take the small bouquet that leaves a fragrance on my fingers
Here is a small gift that I hope will remind you of me
And the feeling that your love is close at hand
I feel comfort knowing that your love is nearby
Thank you for the flowers
I appreciate the beauty of these flowers
Now lets walk through the meadows to the road where our divines caress the sand
Let's explore the beautiful surroundings together and enjoy each other's company
Don't you think its come our time to be together
I really feel that it's time for us to be together
Lets gather up our scattered words of love and make them rhyme
Let's express our love for each other in a meaningful way
Lets go pick some flowers now and fill our empty vases
Let's experience the beauty of nature together and find fulfillment in each other's company
Don't you think its come our time?
I feel strongly that it's time for us to be together
Don't you think its come our time?
I'm really hoping that you agree it's time for us to be together
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: TOMMY COLLINS
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