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.
Goodnight Irene
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now me and my wife have parted gonna take another stroll downtown
Irene goodnight Irene goodnight
Goodnight Irene Goodnight Irene I'll see you in my dreams
Sometimes I live in the country sometimes I live in town
Sometimes I take a fool notion to jump in the river and drown
Irene goodnight Irene goodnight
Stop your ramblin' stop your gamblin' stop stayin' out late at night
Go home to your wife and family stay there by the fireside bright
Irene goodnight Irene goodnight
The song Goodnight Irene by Johnny Cash is a melancholic ballad about a man who recently got married, but has since parted ways with his wife. He mentions how they settled down, but things did not work out, and now he is likely going out to look for love again. Throughout the song, he sings the chorus "Irene Goodnight" repeatedly, which seems to be a way of saying farewell to his old love, but also a reminder that he is not alone as he will dream of her at night. The striking ambiguity and poeticism in the song bring up questions about the nature of lost love and the struggle of finding new paths in life.
The song's lyrics appear simple, but they convey a depth of feeling and an understanding of human emotions. Cash's distinctive singing style and the guitar melody create a hauntingly beautiful sonic atmosphere. The song's message encourages the listener to treasure the people they have in their lives and be wary of the risks of leaving them behind for the sake of freedom and adventure.
Line by Line Meaning
Last Saturday night I got married me and my wife settled down
I got married and decided to start a new life with my spouse.
Now me and my wife have parted gonna take another stroll downtown
My wife and I have separated, so I'm going out again.
Irene goodnight Irene goodnight
I am saying goodnight to Irene, hoping to see her in my dreams.
Sometimes I live in the country sometimes I live in town
I move around a lot and live in different places.
Sometimes I take a fool notion to jump in the river and drown
I have suicidal feelings and consider ending my life in the river.
Irene goodnight Irene goodnight
I am again bidding goodbye to Irene and wishing to meet her in my dreams.
Stop your ramblin' stop your gamblin' stop stayin' out late at night
I am advising someone to stop gambling and wandering out at night.
Go home to your wife and family stay there by the fireside bright
I am telling that person to go home and spend time with their family by the warm, comforting fire.
Irene goodnight Irene goodnight
Once again, I am bidding goodnight to Irene.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Huddie Ledbetter, John Lomax
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.