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.
Good Night Irene
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How's about cookin' somethin' up with me?
Hey, hey, sweet baby, don't you think maybe
We could find us a brand new recipe?
I got a hot rod Ford and a two dollar bill
And I know a spot right over the hill
There's soda pop and the dancin's free
Hey, hey, good lookin', whatcha got cookin'
How's about cookin' somethin' up with me?
I'm free and ready so we can go steady
How's about savin' all your time for me?
No more lookin', I know, I've been tooken
How's about keepin' steady company?
I'm gonna throw my date book over the fence
Find me one for five or ten cents
Keep it till it's covered with age
'Cause I'm writin' your name down on every page
Say hey, good lookin', whatcha got cookin'
How's about cookin' somethin' up with me?
The song "Goodnight Irene" by Johnny Cash is about a man trying to woo a woman. He begins by complimenting her and asking if they could cook something together, possibly a metaphor for starting a relationship. He mentions that he has a car and some money, and he knows of a place they could go to have fun. He continues to express his interest in her and asks her to be his steady companion.
While the lyrics may seem simple, they touch on common themes of love and courtship. The man is persistent in pursuing the woman, and he is willing to do whatever it takes to win her affection. The song has a catchy tune and upbeat tempo, making it a popular choice for dancing.
Overall, "Goodnight Irene" is a classic song that captures the excitement and energy of love. It is a testament to the enduring appeal of Johnny Cash's music and the way he was able to connect with audiences through his lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, hey, good lookin', whatcha got cookin'
Johnny Cash is trying to ask someone if they have any skills like cooking that they would like to show him
How's about cookin' somethin' up with me?
Johnny Cash would like to collaborate with this person on cooking something
Hey, hey, sweet baby, don't you think maybe
Johnny Cash is using this phrase to show he is asking the person nicely
We could find us a brand new recipe?
Johnny Cash and the person he is talking to could find something new to create together
I got a hot rod Ford and a two dollar bill
Johnny Cash is suggesting that they go on a drive together
And I know a spot right over the hill
Johnny Cash knows a great place to go that is nearby
There's soda pop and the dancin's free
There is free entertainment where they are going
If you wanna have fun come along with me
Johnny Cash wants the person he is talking to to join him
I'm free and ready so we can go steady
Johnny Cash is currently available to spend time with this person
How's about savin' all your time for me?
Johnny Cash would like the person he's talking to keep all their available time for him
No more lookin', I know, I've been tooken
Johnny Cash is content with the person he is speaking to now
How's about keepin' steady company?
Johnny Cash would like to spend more time with this person
I'm gonna throw my date book over the fence
Johnny Cash wants to get rid of his old plans and make new ones with this person
Find me one for five or ten cents
Johnny Cash doesn't want to spend a lot of money on a new date book
Keep it till it's covered with age
Johnny Cash wants to keep his new plans with this person for a long time
'Cause I'm writin' your name down on every page
Johnny Cash wants to make sure he never forgets the person he is talking to
Say hey, good lookin', whatcha got cookin'
Johnny Cash is asking the person he is talking to again if they have anything they want to share with him
How's about cookin' somethin' up with me?
Johnny Cash would still like to collaborate with the person he is talking to on cooking something
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@possumverde
I love Johnny Cash but I always thought it was a shame that he used the watered down "white folks" lyrics for this instead of the darker original folk/blues lyrics... (the original had a different first verse and included a fourth verse...)
verse 1:
I asked your mother for you
She said that you were too young
Now I wish to god I'd never seen your face
I'm sorry you ere were born
verse 4:
I love Irene, god knows I do
Love her til the sea runs dry
but if Irene turns her back on me
I'm gonna take morphine and die...
@stumpytheclown
my grandma ( Irene ) is currently very sick and she only has a couple of days left. she had a stroke and she doesn't remember anything. today we went to see her and we played this song for her and she was moving her head and singing along. it brought me to tears.
@annielwhite
coochieissick dude
You played this for her while she was dying ? I donno if this is the last song I’d like to hear , I mean it’s a great song but play ledbellys version .. it’s the original and the tone is atleast not so damn sad
@user-vt2pk7mv8j
❤❤❤
@stumpytheclown
A White No yeah we had played another version but she insisted to hear this version. she loved johnny cash. its because when she was just married to my grandfather, he would sing this to her. it reminded her of good memories with him
@mikesikorski75
@A White this is better than the original.
@davidrockey7190
Yes 💗
@TheWhiskey16
I remember singing Irene Goodnight on my swing when I was a little girl back in 1949 !! Now I sing it to my grandchildren !!
@user-vt2pk7mv8j
❤❤❤
@lorisp5232
I always had a difficult time falling asleep when I was little. 4 or 5 hours later, my dad would check up on me before he went to bed. And there I was, still wide awake, laying in bed. He would always yell to me, "Good Night Irene". I would say, "Dad, why do you always call me Irene?" He would just chuckle and close the door. Do you know how many nights I layed there, confused as to why my father called me Irene? It wasn't until I was about 11yrs old when I heard this song for the first time. I was in the diner with my aunt having lunch and someone played it on the jukebox. I just sat there and laughed to myself. That was the day, I finally found out who Irene was.
@pawelkowalski770
cool story Bro.