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.
Green Grow the Lilacs
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Since she's gone and left me, I care not for one
Since she's gone and left me, contended I'll be
For she loves another one better than me
Green grow the lilacs all sparklin' with you
I'm lonely, my darling, since partin' with you
And by the next meeting, I hope to prove true
I passed my love's window both early and late
The look that she gave me, made my heart ache
The look that she gave me was harm for to see
For she loves another one better than me
Green grow the lilacs all sparklin' with you
I'm lonely, my darling, since partin' with you
And by the next meeting, I hope to prove true
And change the green lilacs to the red white and blue
I wrote my love a letter in rosy red lines
She sent me an answer all twisted and twine
Saying keep your love letters and I will keep mine
Write to your sweetheart and I'll write to mine
Green grow the lilacs all sparklin' with you
I'm lonely, my darling, since partin' with you
And by the next meeting, I hope to prove true
And change the green lilacs to the red white and blue
The lyrics of Johnny Cash's song "Green Grow the Lilacs" revolve around a broken-hearted man who has lost his girlfriend to another man. The song starts with the man reminiscing about his former sweetheart and how he doesn't care for anyone else since she left him for someone else. He is resigned to his fate now that she loves someone else better than him.
The chorus of "Green Grow the Lilacs" is a beautiful description of nature's renewal and the singer's loneliness. He longs to be with his beloved again and hopes that they will be reunited soon. He wants to change the green lilacs to the red, white, and blue– a symbol of patriotism and unity.
In the second verse, the singer sees his love's window and is met with a look that breaks his heart even more. The woman's expression indicates that she no longer cares for him and has chosen someone else. The sadness in the singer's voice is palpable as he describes how hurt he is.
In the final verse, the singer has written his love a letter but receives a response that implies that she has moved on. She suggests that they both write to their new loves and forget each other. The song ends with the chorus once more as the singer longs for his lost love.
Overall, "Green Grow the Lilacs" is a poignant depiction of heartbreak and longing. The green lilacs symbolize nature's freshness and renewal, but also the singer's sorrow over his lost love.
Line by Line Meaning
I used to have a sweetheart but now I've got none
I used to be in love, but now I am alone
Since she's gone and left me, I care not for one
Since she left me, I don't care about anyone else
Since she's gone and left me, contended I'll be
Even though she's gone, I will be satisfied
For she loves another one better than me
She loves someone else more than me
Green grow the lilacs all sparklin' with you
The lilacs remind me of you, and they still sparkle with your memory
I'm lonely, my darling, since partin' with you
I am lonely since we parted ways, my love
And by the next meeting, I hope to prove true
When we meet next time, I hope to show you my love is true
And change the green lilacs to the red white and blue
I hope to change the sadness of the lilacs to the colors of our love
I passed my love's window both early and late
I visited my lover's window in the morning and at night
The look that she gave me, made my heart ache
The look she gave me hurt my heart
The look that she gave me was harm for to see
Her look was painful to see
For she loves another one better than me
She loves someone else more than me
I wrote my love a letter in rosy red lines
I wrote a love letter to my sweetheart in red ink
She sent me an answer all twisted and twine
She sent me a response that was twisted and hard to understand
Saying keep your love letters and I will keep mine
She told me to keep my letters and she would keep hers
Write to your sweetheart and I'll write to mine
We should write to our own sweethearts and keep our distance
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: RONALD MILLER, RONALD N. MILLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@HellyWMarko
Great..(Good Old John ..RIP)
@wcbbernie
very nice, good job. all good.
@waderaney7
So deep Johnny😀
@vangelovan
Hey. He sings just like Tex Ritter. Bet he can ride a horse as well! Love this song.
@charlottemccarthy8264
Every e v e r y night and all day if I am home I listen to darling Johnny and June cash what a shame legend lost forever they are gone BUT not forgotten lucky heaven to get them and lucky them to sing in heaven forever because when we go home to our Jesus we get to be there so that is what Forever is....💔😎💛
@Jesuis-qe8ql
AMERICANS: green grow
MEXICANS: gringos
@roybodden9243
Sounds just like Tex Ritter!
@philipegan1806
Might be able to do Galway Bay now 😉
@mrsoulstationresenas2219
For thats song is for what called gringos a the people of EEUU, in spanish América.
@mrsoulstationresenas2219
I say It with very respect ok carnales