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.
Family
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Its pages worn and hard to read
But the family Bible on the table
Will ever be my key to memories
At the end of day when work was over
And when the evening meal was done
Dad would read to us from the family Bible
I can see us sittin' round the table
When from the family Bible dad would read
And I can hear my mother softly singing
Rock of ages, rock of ages cleft for me
Now this old world of ours is filled with trouble
This old world would also better be
If we'd found more Bibles on the tables
And mothers singing, rock of ages cleft for me
I can see us sittin' round the table
When from the family Bible dad would read
And I can hear my mother softly singing
Rock of ages, rock of ages cleft for me
Rock of ages, rock of ages cleft for me
The opening lines of Johnny Cash's Family Bible describe a worn and difficult-to-read religious text that has a central place in the singer's memories. The Bible is a source of comfort and guidance, and the singer relies on it to connect him to his past, his family, and his faith. Throughout the song, the singer reflects on the importance of this ancient book, not just to him and his family, but to the world at large. He suggests that if more people had Bibles on their tables and mothers singing hymns of praise (in other words, if more people were steeped in the values and teachings of the Bible), the world might be a better place.
The song's themes of faith, family, and tradition are quintessentially American, and are central to Cash's music as a whole. Indeed, Cash was a deeply religious man, and his songs often explore the complexities of faith and spirituality. Family Bible is no exception, and its masterful storytelling and moving imagery make it one of Cash's most enduring works.
Overall, the song is a testament to the power of faith, family, and tradition to connect us to our past, guide us in our present, and inspire us for our future. As the singer says, "The family Bible on the table will ever be my key to memories." It is a potent reminder that in a constantly changing world, some things will always be sacred and true.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a family Bible on the table
In my home, there is a Bible that sits on the table
Its pages worn and hard to read
The book has been used a lot, and is now difficult to read
But the family Bible on the table
Despite its condition, the Bible remains an important part of my family's history
Will ever be my key to memories
This Bible is instrumental in keeping my family's memories alive
At the end of day when work was over
When the work day was done and the family was home
And when the evening meal was done
After we had all finished eating dinner
Dad would read to us from the family Bible
My father would read passages to us from the Bible
And we'd count our many blessings one by one
Together, we would reflect on the good things in our lives
I can see us sittin' round the table
In my mind, I can picture my family gathered together at the table
When from the family Bible dad would read
During those times, my father would read to us from the family Bible
And I can hear my mother softly singing
I can also hear my mother quietly singing a hymn
Rock of ages, rock of ages cleft for me
The song she sang was "Rock of Ages", which talks about God's protection
Now this old world of ours is filled with trouble
The world we live in is full of many problems
This old world would also better be
It would be a better place if
If we'd found more Bibles on the tables
More families made reading the Bible together a priority
And mothers singing, rock of ages cleft for me
And more mothers sang songs of faith, like "Rock of Ages"
I can see us sittin' round the table
Once again, I can vividly remember us gathered around the table
When from the family Bible dad would read
When we would read and discuss passages from the family Bible
And I can hear my mother softly singing
And I can still hear my mother's gentle voice singing hymns
Rock of ages, rock of ages cleft for me
Like "Rock of Ages", which reminds us of God's constant protection and love
Rock of ages, rock of ages cleft for me
That hymn was such an important part of our family's spiritual life, we would sing it often
Lyrics © GLAD MUSIC CO., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Willie Nelson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Melody Panek
Johnny unfortunately wasn't the world's best father to his 4 daughters. He was on the road too much and then addiction. However, their mother was loving and took good care of them.
Anna M
Thank you for putting this together 🎼🎶🙏 love the music the Legend Mr. Cash left 💕
Jackie Kitchen—No Words Needed
Johnny Cash was my all time favorite country music singer!
Anthony Caruso
Not your favorite father,I bet
T4TexasTom
I will always cherish
my memories of seeing Johnny Cash
on stage in Houston, Texas in 1973.
R. I. P.
JOHNNY CASH
Luther 🎸 Perkins
Marshall Grant
W.S. Holland
Bob🎸 Wootton
Rolene
Well it’s nice that the children did something with there life, 😢too bad about there parents but they did the best they could raising the kids,making money, and away a lot, I’m sure it was hard for everyone ,
You do the best you can no matter who you are 😊
Karen Milligan
Kathy Cash is a follower of a YT channel that I follow. She pretisapates on the lives and was in a vlog of the YouTuber when he visited Nashville to vlog and have a meet-up with his fans. She is a nice lady.
Connie Shout
I miss Johnny and I guessI always will. I have been a long time fan. No one will ever come close to him.
Carlene Carter
I miss him everyday
EVERYDAY,EVERYDAY
Great song writer Johnny Cash the legend. Thank you kindly.