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.
Hardin Wouldn't Run
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wes Hardin is his name they say he travels in the night
For he might have to kill or walk around a fight
And if you ever saw Wes Hardin draw you know he can skin his gun
He won't say how many tried and died
Up against the top hand up against the wrong man cause Hardin' wouldn't run
Goin' goin' with Jane Bowen till the law men caught up
So long Janie chin up I'll be back again
Off he went to Huntsville Prison so long Janie he cried
Fifteen years she waited till her heart broke and she died
And she left that bad land to wait up in the sky
Free at last the payin' past for all the wrong he did
First free air they let him breathe since he was a kid
So let him come and let him go and let him deal and bid
Near the border in El Paso Lawyer reads the sign
You won't find him there for business every day at nine
For business is real bad one client's all he's had in quite a long long time
Then sheriff Selman's boy broke in to Wes's woman's place
Up she jumped and pistol whipped him kicked him in the face
And John Selman demands revenge for this disgrace
You could see every night by candlelight in Hardin's favorite bar
She'd be hanging on his arm and very late they'd leave there
Headed for the Goose Hair glad it wasn't far
Right through the swinging doors John Selman came with a blazin' gun
Wes Hardin chug-a-luggin' red eye got him in the back of the head
John Wesley Hardin fell dead cos Hardin wouldn't run
The song "Hardin Wouldn't Run" by Johnny Cash is a ballad based on the life of John Wesley Hardin. Hardin was a notorious Wild West outlaw and gunfighter who earned a reputation for violence and lawlessness. The song describes Hardin's life of crime and his eventual death at the hands of lawman John Selman.
The first verse of the song describes Hardin's quick and deadly hand with a gun. He is known to travel at night and has a reputation for killing anyone who gets in his way. The chorus emphasizes Hardin's fearlessness, stating that he would never back down from a fight or run away from a challenge.
The second verse tells of Hardin's love affair with Jane Bowen and how he was arrested and sent to Huntsville Prison, leaving Jane to wait for him for 15 years until she died. Hardin is finally released from prison and is free to roam and live the life he desires, dealing and bidding as he sees fit.
The final verse of the song tells of Hardin's eventual demise. John Selman, seeking revenge for Hardin's mistreatment of his son, tracks him down to a bar in El Paso. Selman enters the bar and shoots Hardin in the back of the head, killing him instantly. The song ends with the line "Hardin wouldn't run."
Overall, the song portrays Hardin as a notorious outlaw who lived outside the law and refused to back down from a fight. It reflects the glorification of the Wild West and the violent, lawless culture that existed during that time.
Line by Line Meaning
I know a man whose plow handle hand is quicker than a light
I know a fast man with a quick hand.
Wes Hardin is his name they say he travels in the night
This man's name is Wes Hardin and he travels at night.
For he might have to kill or walk around a fight
He lives a dangerous life and sometimes has to fight.
And if you ever saw Wes Hardin draw you know he can skin his gun
If you've seen Wes Hardin draw his gun, you know he's skilled with it.
He won't say how many tried and died
He's killed many people, but won't say how many.
Up against the top hand up against the wrong man cause Hardin' wouldn't run
Even when faced with a tough opponent, Wes Hardin wouldn't back down.
Goin' goin' with Jane Bowen till the law men caught up
Wes was on the run with a woman named Jane Bowen until the law caught up to them.
So long Janie chin up I'll be back again
Wes said goodbye to Jane and promised to return.
Fifteen years she waited till her heart broke and she died
Jane waited for Wes for fifteen years, but died before he was released from prison.
And she left that bad land to wait up in the sky
Jane left this world to wait for Wes in the afterlife.
Free at last the payin' past for all the wrong he did
Wes was finally released from prison and had paid for his past crimes.
First free air they let him breathe since he was a kid
For the first time in a long time, Wes was breathing free air.
So let him come and let him go and let him deal and bid
Wes was able to go where he pleased and do as he pleased.
Near the border in El Paso Lawyer reads the sign
In El Paso, a lawyer reads a sign about Wes.
You won't find him there for business every day at nine
Wes isn't at the place advertised on the sign every day at nine o'clock.
For business is real bad one client's all he's had in quite a long long time
Wes doesn't have much business and hasn't had many clients lately.
Up she jumped and pistol whipped him kicked him in the face
When Sheriff Selman's son broke into Wes's woman's place, she fought back by hitting him with a pistol and kicking him.
And John Selman demands revenge for this disgrace
Sheriff Selman's father demands revenge for the incident with his son.
You could see every night by candlelight in Hardin's favorite bar
Wes could be seen at his favorite bar every night by candlelight.
She'd be hanging on his arm and very late they'd leave there
Wes would leave the bar with a woman hanging on his arm late at night.
Headed for the Goose Hair glad it wasn't far
They would go to the Goose Hair bar, which thankfully wasn't too far away.
Right through the swinging doors John Selman came with a blazin' gun
Sheriff Selman came into the bar with a gun.
Wes Hardin chug-a-luggin' red eye got him in the back of the head
Wes was shot in the back of the head while drinking and not paying attention.
John Wesley Hardin fell dead cos Hardin wouldn't run
Wes died because he refused to run away and avoid the confrontation.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: TRADITIONAL, J BAIRD, PD TRADITIONAL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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