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.
Hank and Joe and me Start
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The days're hot the nights're cold
Hank and Joe and me walked on
So bold and brave and free
For days and days we fought the heat
I got so thirsty and I got so weak
And when I fell 'cause I couldn't go
He's dyin'
(Dyin' dyin')
For water
Hear him cryin'
(Cryin' cryin')
For water
Well lay him down in the dust and sand he said
Joe you know he's a dyin' man
Leave him there and let him die
I can't stand to hear him cry for water
I don't remember how long I lay
But when I awoke it was the break of day
Buzzards circled miles ahead
I knew Hank and Joe were dead
My eyes were dimmed but I could see
A bed of gold nuggets under me
Now I know that it won't be long
Till they decorate my bones
'Cause I'm dyin'
(Dyin' dyin')
For water
Can't help cryin'
(Cryin' cryin')
For water
Well they laid me down in the dust and sand he said
Joe you know he's a dyin' man
Leave him there and let him die
I can't stand to hear him cry for water
He couldn't stand to hear me cry for water
The song "Hank & Joe & Me" by Johnny Cash is a tragic story about three friends who went into the desert in search of gold. The lyrics describe how the journey was challenging, with the hot days and cold nights taking a toll on their health. As they marched on, they became exhausted, and the singer found himself unable to go on due to dehydration. In a heartbreaking moment, the other two friends, Hank and Joe, abandoned him, even though he was crying for water. The singer eventually woke up to find that his friends had died, and he was left alone, with the buzzards circling above his head.
The lyrics are hauntingly beautiful and evoke strong emotions of sorrow and despair. It highlights the harsh reality of the desert, where even survival relies on finding water. The decision made by Hank and Joe to abandon their friend is particularly painful, as it leaves a lasting scar on the singer, who is left to grapple with his own mortality.
Overall, "Hank & Joe & Me" is a tragic tale that underscores the importance of loyalty and friendship. It also serves as a reminder of how unforgiving nature can be, especially in the harsh environment of the desert.
Line by Line Meaning
In the desert where we searched for gold
We were exploring the arid desert looking for gold deposits
The days're hot the nights're cold
The temperature variation was severe, with hot days and chilly nights
Hank and Joe and me walked on
Me, Hank, and Joe continued our journey in the desert
So bold and brave and free
We felt fearless and unrestrained in our quest for riches
For days and days we fought the heat
We endured extreme heat for an extended period
I got so thirsty and I got so weak
I became dehydrated and weakened due to the lack of water
And when I fell 'cause I couldn't go
I collapsed because I was unable to continue
I heard Hank say to Joe
I overheard Hank talking to Joe
He's dyin'(Dyin' dyin')For waterHear him cryin'(Cryin' cryin')For water
Hank told Joe that I was dying from dehydration and begging for water.
Well lay him down in the dust and sand he saidJoe you know he's a dyin' manLeave him there and let him dieI can't stand to hear him cry for water
Hank suggested to Joe that it would be best to leave me to die since he couldn't bear to hear my agony for water anymore.
I don't remember how long I layBut when I awoke it was the break of dayBuzzards circled miles aheadI knew Hank and Joe were dead
I passed out for an unknown amount of time, but upon waking up, I saw vultures flying in the distance and realized that Hank and Joe had perished.
My eyes were dimmed but I could seeA bed of gold nuggets under me
Despite my impaired vision, I could make out a cluster of gold nuggets which lay beneath me.
Now I know that it won't be longTill they decorate my bones'Cause I'm dyin'(Dyin' dyin')For waterCan't help cryin'(Cryin' cryin')For water
I accepted the fate that would soon be mine, and acknowledged that I too would fall victim to dehydration and that my skeletal remains would be decorated with the same gold that we all greedily sought.
Well they laid me down in the dust and sand he saidJoe you know he's a dyin' manLeave him there and let him dieI can't stand to hear him cry for waterHe couldn't stand to hear me cry for water
As I was dying, Hank expressed to Joe that he couldn't tolerate hearing me beg for water any longer and instructed Joe to leave me there to die.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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Anonymous
on Wayfaring Stranger
Wayfaring Stranger - The New Appalachians - Lyrics
I am a poor wayfaring stranger
Traveling through this world alone
There will be no sickness, toil or danger
In that grand land to which I roam
Well I'm going home to see my mother
I'm going home to a morning rose
I'm only goin' over Jordan
I'm only goin' over home
Musical Interlude
I know dark clouds will gather 'round me
I know my way is rough and steep
And beautiful fields lie just before me
Where God's redeemed there vigils keep
Well I'm going home to see my brothers
I'm going home no more to roam
I'm only goin' over Jordan
I'm only goin' over home
Musical Interlude
I'm going home to see my Father
I'm going home no more to roam
I'm only goin' over Jordan
I’m only goin’ where no one roams
I want to wear that crown of glory
When I get to that good land
I want to shout out salvation story
In concert with that blood washed band.
I'm going there to see my saviour
I’ll see his face no more to roam
I'm only going over Jordan
I'm only going over home
I'm only goin' over home