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.
Everybody Loves a Nut
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The whole world loves a weirdo
Brains are in a rut
But everybody loves a nut
There was a hermit named Fred
Who kept the dead horse in his cave
And everyone said to Fred
In your cave?", and he said, "Well"
(Everybody loves a nut)
(The whole world loves a weirdo)
Brains are in a rut but everybody loves a nut
A Columbia man named Frank
Had a tiger named Hank
He tried to put Hank in his tank
Guess what happened to ol' Frank
When they picked up the teets there and eyeballs
And erected a tombstone that read
(Everybody loves a nut)
Another Columbia fella told queen Isabella
I don't think the world is flat
And now what do you think about that
And she said
"You don't", and he said, "No mam"
And she said
"He'd get out of my queendom"
And he said, "Yes mam"
(Everybody loves a nut)
Everybody loves a nut
The lyrics to Johnny Cash's song "Everybody Loves a Nut" are a tongue-in-cheek exploration of the concept of eccentricity and the way society both embraces and ridicules those who think and act differently from the norm. The opening lines set the tone by declaring that everyone loves a "weirdo" and that even if our brains are in a "rut" we can't help but be fascinated by those who stand out from the crowd.
The first verse tells the story of a hermit named Fred who keeps a dead horse in his cave. When others question him about it, he simply shrugs and says, "Well". This suggests a kind of Zen acceptance of the bizarre for its own sake, as well as an implicit criticism of those who try to impose their own standards of normalcy on others.
The second verse introduces us to a man named Frank who keeps a tiger named Hank. When Frank tries to put Hank in his tank, things don't go as planned and Frank ends up dead. The tone shifts here from humorous to macabre, as we're reminded that there can be real consequences to living outside the bounds of what other people consider reasonable.
One interesting aspect of this song is the way in which Cash uses specific examples to illustrate his broader point about the nature of eccentricity. By singling out individual characters and their quirks, he both humanizes and universalizes the experience of being a "nut". At the same time, he never loses his sense of humor, and the whole song has a playful, self-aware quality that makes it impossible to take too seriously.
Line by Line Meaning
Everybody loves a nut
The world has a special place for people who are weird and different in their own way
The whole world loves a weirdo
Being unique and different makes people stand out and become beloved despite their flaws
Brains are in a rut
Being too cerebral or logical can make one boring and unappealing
But everybody loves a nut
However, people still adore and gravitate towards those who are unconventional and not afraid to be themselves
There was a hermit named Fred
There was this man who lived alone and away from society
Who kept the dead horse in his cave
He kept a lifeless animal in his home, which is not the norm
And everyone said to Fred
People asked him about the unusual thing he was doing
"Fred, how come you keep a dead horse
In your cave?", and he said, "Well"
They inquired why he did such a weird thing and he replied with an intriguing answer
A Columbia man named Frank
There was a man from Columbia, whose name was Frank
Had a tiger named Hank
He owned an exotic, wild animal named Hank
He tried to put Hank in his tank
He attempted to put the tiger in an enclosed space, which is not suitable for its living conditions
Guess what happened to ol' Frank
It is not difficult to assess what could have possibly happened to him after doing such a dangerous act
When they picked up the teets there and eyeballs
And erected a tombstone that read
After the gruesome incident happened, they made a humorous epitaph for Hank and Frank
Another Columbia fella told Queen Isabella
Another man from Columbia informed Queen Isabella
I don't think the world is flat
He did not believe in the popular and widely accepted idea that the world was flat
And now what do you think about that
He asked her for her opinion regarding his belief
And she said
"You don't", and he said, "No mam"
And she said
"He'd get out of my queendom"
And he said, "Yes mam"
She disagreed with him and he respectfully listened to her and confirmed he would leave
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JACK CLEMENT
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