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.
Down In The Valley
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hang your head over, hear the wind blow
Hear the wind blow, love, hear the wind blow
Hang your head over, hear the wind blow
If you don't love me, love whom you please
Throw your arms round me, give my heart ease
Give my heart ease, love, give my heart ease
Write me a letter, send it by mail
Send it in care of the Birmingham jail
Birmingham jail, love, Birmingham jail
Send it in care of the Birmingham jail
Down in the valley, valley so low
Hang your head over, hear the wind blow
Hear the train blow, love, hear the train blow
Hang your head over, hear the tain blow
The song Down in the Valley is a traditional American folk song that has been covered by numerous artists, including Johnny Cash. The song speaks of love and heartbreak, set against the backdrop of a low valley where the wind and train can be heard. It begins with the invitation to hang one's head over in the valley and listen to the wind blow, as if to signify the call of sadness and despair. The second verse expresses the idea that if the person does not love the singer, one should love whom they please, indicating the acceptance of the circumstances and the other person's emotions. The chorus repeats the invitation to hang one's head over and listen to the wind blow as a recurring theme.
The third verse offers a solution for the singer's heartache - to have the other person throw their arms around the singer to give their heart ease. It portrays the idea of surrendering to the person's love and offering one's trust and affection. The last verse suggests that if the person cannot be present physically, the singer would appreciate a letter and suggests it be sent to the care of the Birmingham jail. This perhaps hints at the singer's own vulnerability and confinement within the valley, and the jail mirrors that sense of imprisonment.
Overall, the lyrics offer a poignant reflection on love, its vicissitudes, and the emotions that come with it. The valley and its surroundings offer a fitting backdrop to the emotional landscape of the song, and the musical arrangement further accentuates the melancholic mood of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Down in the valley, valley so low
In the depths of despair and sadness, where everything seems hopeless and dark.
Hang your head over, hear the wind blow
Feel the overwhelming loneliness and emptiness that comes with heartbreak.
Hear the wind blow, love, hear the wind blow
Even nature seems to mourn the loss of love, with the wind howling in sympathy.
Hang your head over, hear the wind blow
The sorrow and pain of lost love is all-encompassing, with the wind amplifying the feelings of sadness.
If you don't love me, love whom you please
Even though I may be heartbroken, I encourage you to follow your heart and pursue the love that you desire.
Throw your arms round me, give my heart ease
Though our love may be over, I long for the comfort of your embrace and affection to bring me peace.
Give my heart ease, love, give my heart ease
My heart has been shattered, and only the love and care of another can help soothe the pain.
Throw your arms round me, give my heart ease
In this moment of vulnerability and heartache, all I crave is the comfort of human embrace.
Write me a letter, send it by mail
If you cannot be with me in person, I long for the written words of love and comfort from you.
Send it in care of the Birmingham jail
Even if I am imprisoned and cannot be with you, I still wish to receive your love and affection through written correspondence.
Birmingham jail, love, Birmingham jail
My physical confinement cannot contain my love and longing for you, as I continue to hope for your presence and affection.
Down in the valley, valley so low
My heart is in the depths of sadness and hopelessness, with despair consuming my every thought.
Hang your head over, hear the wind blow
Even the natural elements seem to mourn the loss of love, with the wind echoing the pain of heartbreak.
Hear the train blow, love, hear the train blow
The train represents the journey of life, and even as I experience heartbreak and loss, life continues to march on relentlessly.
Hang your head over, hear the train blow
The train symbolizes the passing of time, as life and the world around me moves forward while my heart remains stuck in the pain of heartbreak.
Contributed by Sebastian C. 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