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.
Frankie's Man Johnny Start
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They were true as a blue blue sky
He was a long-legged guitar picker with a wicked wanderin' eye
But he was her man nearly all of the time
Well Johnny he packed up to leave her but he promised he'd be back
He said he had a little pickin' to do a little farther down the track
He said "I'm your man I wouldn't do you wrong"
Well Frankie curled up on the sofa thinkin' about her man
Far away the couples were dancing to the music of his band
He was Frankie's man he wasn't doin' her wrong
Then in the front door walked a redhead Johnny saw her right away
She came down by the bandstand to watch him while he played
He was Frankie's man but she was far away
He sang every song to the redhead she smiled back at him
Then he came and sat at her table where the lights were low and dim
What Frankie didn't know wouldn't hurt her none
Then the redhead jumped up and slapped him
She slapped him a time or two
She said "I'm Frankie's sister and I was checking up on you"
If you're her man you better treat her right
Well the moral of this story is be good but carry a stick
Sometimes it looks like a guitar picker just can't tell what to pick
He was Frankie's man and he still ain't done her wrong
The song "Frankie and Johnny" by Johnny Cash tells the story of two lovers, Frankie and Johnny. The first verse introduces the couple as being "true as a blue blue sky," but with Johnny having a wandering eye. The second verse portrays Johnny leaving to play music elsewhere. Frankie is left thinking about her man at home while he is off playing music for dancing couples in a different town. The third verse sees Johnny meeting a redhead who watches him perform. He sings to her and sits at her table with the lights low while thinking of Frankie. However, the redhead reveals herself to be Frankie's sister and promptly slaps Johnny, reminding him to treat her sister well.
The moral of the story, as mentioned in the final verse, is to be good but carry a stick. Johnny thought he could get away with flirting with someone else while in a different town and thinking that Frankie wouldn't find out. But, as he soon found out, he was wrong. The song's themes revolve around the consequences of infidelity and the importance of remaining faithful in a relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Well now Frankie and Johnny were sweethearts
Frankie and Johnny were deeply in love
They were true as a blue blue sky
Their love was pure and unwavering
He was a long-legged guitar picker with a wicked wanderin' eye
Johnny was a musician with a reputation for being unfaithful
But he was her man nearly all of the time
Despite Johnny's wandering eye, he devoted most of his time to Frankie
Well Johnny he packed up to leave her but he promised he'd be back
Johnny left Frankie temporarily but promised to return
He said he had a little pickin' to do a little farther down the track
Johnny had to go play some gigs before he could come back to Frankie
He said "I'm your man I wouldn't do you wrong"
Johnny reassured Frankie of his loyalty
Well Frankie curled up on the sofa thinkin' about her man
Frankie missed Johnny and thought about him at home
Far away the couples were dancing to the music of his band
Johnny was performing at a gig and other couples were dancing to his music
He was Frankie's man he wasn't doin' her wrong
Despite being away, Johnny remained faithful to Frankie
Then in the front door walked a redhead Johnny saw her right away
A woman with red hair walked in, and Johnny noticed her immediately
She came down by the bandstand to watch him while he played
The woman stood close to Johnny while he was performing on stage
He was Frankie's man but she was far away
Although Johnny was devoted to Frankie, she was not there with him
He sang every song to the redhead she smiled back at him
Johnny played all his songs to the woman with red hair, and she smiled back at him
Then he came and sat at her table where the lights were low and dim
After his performance, Johnny went to sit with the woman in a dimly lit area
What Frankie didn't know wouldn't hurt her none
Johnny decided to keep his interaction with the woman a secret from Frankie
Then the redhead jumped up and slapped him
Suddenly, the woman stood up and hit Johnny.
She slapped him a time or two
The woman hit Johnny more than once.
She said "I'm Frankie's sister and I was checking up on you"
The woman was actually Frankie's sister, and she was checking on Johnny's loyalty.
If you're her man you better treat her right
Frankie's sister warned Johnny that he needed to treat Frankie well.
Well the moral of this story is be good but carry a stick
The lesson to be learned from this story is that it's better to be prepared and well-behaved.
Sometimes it looks like a guitar picker just can't tell what to pick
At times, it can be hard for a musician like Johnny to decide what is most important.
He was Frankie's man and he still ain't done her wrong
Ultimately, Johnny remained faithful to Frankie and never truly betrayed her.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHNNY R. CASH
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