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.
Flesh And Blood
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where the willow grew
Where the silver leaf of maple
Sparkled in the morning dew
I braided twigs of willows
Made a string of buckeye beads
But flesh and blood needs flesh and blood
Flesh and blood needs flesh and blood
And you're the one I need
I leaned against a bark of birch
And I breathed the honey dew
I saw a North-bound flock of geese
Against a sky of baby blue
Beside the lily pads
I carved a whistle from a reed
Mother Nature's quite a lady
But you're the one I need
Flesh and blood needs flesh and blood
And you're the one I need
A cardinal sang just for me
And I thanked him for the song
Then the sun went slowly down the west
And I had to move along
These were some of the things
On which my mind and spirit feed
But flesh and blood need flesh and blood
And you're the one I need
Flesh and blood needs flesh and blood
And you're the one I need
So when this day was ended
I was still not satisfied
For I knew everything I touched
Would wither and would die
And love is all that will remain
And grow from all these seeds
Mother Nature's quite a lady
But you're the one I need
Flesh and blood needs flesh and blood
And you're the one I need
In "Flesh and Blood," Johnny Cash reflects on the beauty of nature around him and the many things he can appreciate, such as the singing stream, willows, maple leaves, and lily pads. He seems to find solace in these things and crafts small trinkets with them, like a string of buckeye beads and a whistle made from a reed. However, despite his appreciation for these natural wonders, Cash acknowledges that as a human being, he needs companionship and love from another human; "flesh and blood needs flesh and blood." The lyrics lay bare a melancholy loneliness that Cash feels despite his appreciation for the natural world.
By the end of the song, Cash realizes that love is what gives life its meaning and purpose. Everything else he touched or created would eventually wither and die, but love would continue to grow and thrive like a natural seed. The message is clear: Despite our appreciation for the natural world, we ultimately need the love and companionship of other humans to truly thrive and live a fulfilling life. This sentiment echoes throughout many of Cash's other songs, as he often reflects on the beauty of life's simple pleasures but also recognizes the necessity of love and human connection.
Line by Line Meaning
Beside a singing mountain stream
Johnny Cash starts the song by describing that he was beside a beautiful stream surrounded by nature.
Where the willow grew
He wants to emphasize the beauty of the place by mentioning the growth of the willow trees in that location.
Where the silver leaf of maple
He draws attention to the silver leaves of maple that glisten in the morning dew.
Sparkled in the morning dew
The morning dew further enhances the beauty of the environment by providing that extra sparkle.
I braided twigs of willows
Johnny Cash's actions of braiding twigs represent his creativity and resourcefulness.
Made a string of buckeye beads
He even makes a string of buckeye beads out of the wilow twigs to show his skillfulness.
But flesh and blood needs flesh and blood
Despite the beauty of the surroundings, he realizes that he needs human connection.
And you're the one I need
He attributes his need for flesh and blood to the person he loves, believing that they are the one he needs.
I leaned against a bark of birch
This line is similar to the previous three – Johnny is describing his close relationship to nature.
And I breathed the honey dew
He describes breathing in the honey dew that is on the birch tree.
I saw a North-bound flock of geese
He takes note of the flock of geese flying north, emphasizing the beauty of nature.
Against a sky of baby blue
Johnny explains the scene and how the geese look against the blue sky.
Beside the lily pads
Johnny moves to a different spot by a pond that has lily pads, which is picturesque.
I carved a whistle from a reed
Even at this spot, he is still creative and makes a whistle out of a reed.
Mother Nature's quite a lady
Johnny is always in awe of nature and sees its beauty as a woman.
But you're the one I need
Despite the beauty of nature around him, he still believes that he needs that human connection.
A cardinal sang just for me
Johnny experiences a moment where a cardinal was singing for him personally, which is a beautiful moment in his life.
And I thanked him for the song
He shows gratitude for what the cardinal has given him.
Then the sun went slowly down the west
Johnny describes the sun setting and the day coming to an end.
And I had to move along
He accepts that this day is over and it is time to move on.
These were some of the things
Johnny recognizes that the entire experience was special.
On which my mind and spirit feed
Johnny confirms that his mind and soul were nourished by the experiences he had that day.
But flesh and blood need flesh and blood
He repeats this line to remind listeners that despite the beauty of nature, he still had an unfulfilled need for human connection.
And you're the one I need
The song concludes with Johnny feeling like the person he loves is the answer to his need for human connection, and the most important thing in his life.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DANNY ELFMAN
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