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.
Going to Memphis
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If I could get to mercy man he's give me some I know
I got a gal in Vickburg Bertha is her name
Wish I's tied to Bertha instead of this ball and chain
I'm goin' to Memphis (that's right Lord) yeah (uh huh)
But dues took all my money wouldn't let me see the cards
I owen the boss about a hundred years for sleepin' in his backyard
Like a bitter weed I'm a bad seed but when that levee's through and I am too
Let the honky tonk roll on come mornin' I'll be gone
I'm goin' to Memphis yeah Memphis
I never been to Chicago but it must be a mighty fine place (that's right)
I couldn't get past Tennessee with Mississippi all over my face (uh huh)
I'm goin' to Memphis (that's right Lord Memphis)
Well the freezin' ground at night is my own foldin' bed
Polk salad is my bread and meat and it will be till I'm dead
Well I brought me a little water in a Mr Prince Albert can
But the bossman caught me drinkin' it and I believe he broke my hand (hm hm)
They all call me crazy for sassin' Mr Scott
My brother was killed for a deed I did but I disremember what (yeah)
Well another boy is down the shovel burned him out
Let me stand on his body to see what the shoutin's about
I'm goin' to Memphis yeah I'm goin' to Memphis hmm
Like a bitter weed
The lyrics to Johnny Cash's song Going to Memphis tell the story of a man who is facing a difficult situation and is determined to find a way out. He is looking for redemption and hoping to start a new life with Bertha, his love interest. The man is depicted as a wanderer who has been through a difficult life, having owed the boss about a hundred years for sleeping in his backyard, and facing the consequences of his actions along the way. Although the lyrics are straightforward, they can be interpreted in a variety of ways, as is the case with many of Johnny Cash's songs.
The central theme of the song is about the pursuit of change, redemption, and finding a new beginning. The man is determined to get to Memphis, where he believes he can find mercy and a new life with Bertha. The song also touches on the challenges and struggles faced by people who do not have a home, have little means, and are forced to survive on their own. The lyrics paint a picture of a man who is facing a difficult situation, but who is determined to better himself and find a way out, even if it means making a few sacrifices along the way.
In summary, the lyrics to Johnny Cash's song Going to Memphis are about the pursuit of change, redemption, and finding a new beginning. The man in the song is determined to get to Memphis, where he hopes to find mercy and start a new life with Bertha. The lyrics depict the struggles and challenges faced by people who do not have a home, have little means, and are forced to survive on their own.
Line by Line Meaning
Bring a drink of water Leroy bring a drink of water (no)
Asking for water from Leroy, but he refused to give. He is hoping to get some water from a friend he knows, Mercy Man.
If I could get to mercy man he's give me some I know
Hopeful of getting a drink of water from Mercy Man.
I got a gal in Vickburg Bertha is her name
Johnny has a lady love named Bertha living in Vickburg.
Wish I's tied to Bertha instead of this ball and chain
He wishes he was tied up to Bertha and not tied to the problems he has been facing.
I'm goin' to Memphis (that's right Lord) yeah (uh huh)
Johnny is determined to go to Memphis, despite all the struggles that he is going through.
But dues took all my money wouldn't let me see the cards
Johnny Cash was unable to gamble as he didn't have enough money with him and was unable to see the cards.
I owen the boss about a hundred years for sleepin' in his backyard
Johnny Cash owes his boss about a hundred years because he was sleeping in his backyard without permission.
Like a bitter weed I'm a bad seed but when that levee's through and I am too
He means to say that he is bitter like weed and he might be a bad seed but he will not back down until his fight is over.
Let the honky tonk roll on come mornin' I'll be gone
He wants to enjoy the music of the honky tonk bar and leave early morning for his journey.
I'm goin' to Memphis yeah Memphis
Johnny Cash repeats that he is determined to go to Memphis.
I never been to Chicago but it must be a mighty fine place (that's right)
Johnny Cash has not been to Chicago, but he thinks it must be a nice place.
I couldn't get past Tennessee with Mississippi all over my face (uh huh)
He couldn't go beyond Tennessee because he was stuck in a lot of problems and felt exhausted.
Well the freezin' ground at night is my own foldin' bed
Johnny Cash was homeless and had to sleep on the freezing ground at night.
Polk salad is my bread and meat and it will be till I'm dead
Polk salad, a dish made from cooked pokeweed, is the only food he can afford to have, and it is all he will be eating until he dies.
Well I brought me a little water in a Mr Prince Albert can
He has a small Prince Albert can with him in which he carries water.
But the bossman caught me drinkin' it and I believe he broke my hand (hm hm)
Johnny Cash was caught drinking water by his bossman, who then proceeded to hit him so hard that he thinks his hand is broken.
They all call me crazy for sassin' Mr Scott
People think he is crazy because he argues with Mr. Scott, his boss and insults him.
My brother was killed for a deed I did but I disremember what (yeah)
Johnny Cash's brother was killed as a result of something he did, but he can't remember what it was exactly.
Well another boy is down the shovel burned him out
Another boy has died while working with him, and he is feeling the pressure to also keep working without taking a rest.
Let me stand on his body to see what the shoutin's about
Johnny is so tired from working that he lies down on the body of the boy who died to rest and figure out what is going on around him.
I'm goin' to Memphis yeah I'm goin' to Memphis hmm
Once again, Johnny confirms his determination to go to Memphis.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHNNY CASH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Freedom Ring
Like a bitter weed I’m a bad seed.
elvismemories52
The story came from Tex Ritter and it’s Luther Perkins talking in the background
Eric Nijkamp
Juan ,esta musica historial es mejores,....salud d'Amsterdam.
Paul Marsh
Typical Mississippi, NO!!!! Theres beauty there too!!!
Keenan Hendershot
thank you indian