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.
Girl in Saskatoon
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A little south of Hudson Bay
I couldn't find a thing, to make a rounder want to stay
I fought the wind across the barren waste in the crystal doom
Going for to marry the girl in Saskatoon
I'm glad I realized that no one could take her place
My heart was beating for her like the winter beat my face
I'm freezing but I'm burning for the girl in Saskatoon
South and West and following the cold December sun
I bedded down in the Carragana when my daily trek was done
Then up and pressing onward by the light of the morning moon
A prodigal returning to the girl in Saskatoon
Then I found the trail that had packed beneath the snow
I made the final miles where the prairie lilies grow
The steeple on a church glistened by the prairie moon
I'm freezing but I'm burning for the girl in Saskatoon
My journey was forgotten
When I held her in my arms
My wanderlust was stifled
By possession of her charms
And even beneath the steeple
Where we couldn't wait till June
I found eternal spring with the girl in Saskatoon
In "Girl in Saskatoon," Johnny Cash tells the story of a man who braves harsh conditions to reach the woman he loves. The man leaves his hometown, located to the south of Hudson Bay, in search of a better life. However, he realizes that the only thing he wants is to be with his beloved in Saskatoon. Despite the trying weather, the man journeys toward her, following the cold December sun and sleeping in Carragana when he can go no further.
Johnny Cash's haunting lyrics paint a picture of a man so in love with a woman that he is willing to endure cold weather and difficult terrain just to be with her. The image of burning and freezing side-by-side illustrates the intensity of the love he has for her. When he finally reaches Saskatoon, there is a sense of joy and relief as he holds his beloved in his arms, and a feeling of completeness as he finds "eternal spring" with the girl in Saskatoon.
Overall, "Girl in Saskatoon" is a heartfelt song about the lengths that someone will go to for love. It showcases Johnny Cash's ability to craft lyrics that are emotionally resonant and evocative of the human condition.
Line by Line Meaning
I left a little town
The singer left a small town in search of something more.
A little south of Hudson Bay
The town was located in the northern part of North America.
I couldn't find a thing, to make a rounder want to stay
The singer couldn't find anything to make him want to stay in the small town.
I fought the wind across the barren waste in the crystal doom
The artist traveled across a harsh, barren landscape in difficult conditions.
Going for to marry the girl in Saskatoon
The artist's ultimate goal was to marry a girl who lived in Saskatoon.
I'm glad I realized that no one could take her place
The singer knows that the girl in Saskatoon is irreplaceable.
My heart was beating for her like the winter beat my face
The singer's love for the girl was intense, like the harsh winter conditions he faced on his journey.
But knowing that I'd see her made my spirit bright as June
The prospect of seeing the girl in Saskatoon filled the artist with joy and hope.
I'm freezing but I'm burning for the girl in Saskatoon
Despite the cold conditions, the artist's love for the girl kept him warm.
South and West and following the cold December sun
The artist traveled south and west, following the sun in winter.
I bedded down in the Carragana when my daily trek was done
The singer slept in Carragana after a day of traveling.
Then up and pressing onward by the light of the morning moon
The artist continued his journey by the light of the moon in the morning.
A prodigal returning to the girl in Saskatoon
The singer sees himself as a prodigal, returning to the girl he loves.
Then I found the trail that had packed beneath the snow
The singer found a trail that was hidden under the snow.
I made the final miles where the prairie lilies grow
The singer completed the final leg of his journey where prairie lilies grow.
The steeple on a church glistened by the prairie moon
The steeple of a church sparkled in the moonlight in the prairie.
My journey was forgotten
The artist's journey became unimportant once he was with the girl he loved.
When I held her in my arms
The singer found happiness when he held the girl he loves.
My wanderlust was stifled
The singer's desire to wander and travel was gone.
By possession of her charms
The artist was content to be with the girl he loves and did not need to travel anymore.
And even beneath the steeple
Even in the presence of the church steeple or in times of stress, the artist and the girl found love and comfort in each other.
Where we couldn't wait till June
The artist and the girl could not wait to be together, even though June was months away.
I found eternal spring with the girl in Saskatoon
The singer found eternal happiness and love with the girl he loves.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHNNY HORTON, JOHNNY R. CASH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@adammc2339
Amazing song. Im not sure if it's just me, but Cash actually sounds genuinely upset singing this song. Maybe it's because of Johnny Horton, who died not long after he recorded this (who also co-wrote it with him). Very deep😔
@user-op2or6iw4l
Let’s chat google chat
@alexey1983rus
Замечательно!
@HillsBru
We miss you Johnny!
@richardadamski9502
Great song and a great singer.
@jkuzub
Eugene Hutz (from Gogol Bordello) played and sang this song at the Gogol Bordello concert in Saskatoon on October 4, 2009. It was quite good and the crowd went wild.
@FreeLicks96
I always thought Saskatoon was too of a burn out city, but johnny cheers me up about this place. :)
@bellgardens53
Pretty cool Cash tune here.
@oilersridersbluejays
Farm kid from about 200 kms northwest of Saskatoon. Doesn't sound close but on the Canadian prairies it is. This song has a sad and dark history. Google Alex Wiwcharuk, she was the original Girl From Saskatoon if you don't know the story. It'll break your heart.
@gregdee4409
That can't be true. This song was released in 1960, but she was murdered in 1962. I'm sure many people have used the song to add poignancy to her murder, but it wasn't originally about her. (eg. a book about her was called Girl From Saskatoon)