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.
He Stopped Loving Her Today
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She told him "You'll forget in time"
As the years went slowly by,
She still preyed upon his mind
He kept her picture on his wall,
Went half-crazy now and then
He still loved her through it all,
Kept some letters by his bed
Dated nineteen sixty-two
He had underlined in red
Every single "I love you"
I went to see him just today,
Oh but I didn't see no tears
All dressed up to go away, first time
I'd seen him smile in years
He stopped loving her today
They placed a wreath upon his door
And soon they'll carry him away
He stopped loving her today
You know,
She came to see him one last time.
Aww, 'n' we all wondered if she would.
And it kept runnin' through my mind
"This time he's over her for good."
He stopped loving her today
They placed a wreath upon his door
And soon they'll carry him away
He stopped loving her today
The lyrics to Johnny Cash's classic song, "He Stopped Loving Her Today," tell a story of a man who loved a woman so deeply that even after she left him and moved on, he never stopped loving her. As the years went by, he continued to hold onto her memory, keeping her picture on his wall, and reading old love letters. He remained hopelessly devoted to her, even as time passed and she never returned to him.
The first two lines of the song perfectly set the stage for the tragic tale to come. The man says to his former love that he will love her until he dies, but she tells him that he will forget her with time. However, as the years pass, it becomes clear that the opposite is true. The man cannot forget her, and the memory of their love remains with him even as he ages. The chorus of the song is a hauntingly beautiful tribute to the man's love and commitment, but it's also a reminder that love can sometimes end in heartbreak.
The final verse of the song is both poignant and bittersweet. The woman comes to see him one last time, and it becomes clear that this time he really is "over her for good." It's a heartbreaking conclusion to a beautiful love story, but it's a testament to the power of love and the lasting impact that it can have on our lives, even after the object of our affection is gone.
Line by Line Meaning
He said "I'll love you till I die"
He professed his love for her, promising to love her until his death
She told him "You'll forget in time"
She expressed doubts that he'll hold onto his love for her forever
As the years went slowly by,
As time continued to pass and age began to set in,
She still preyed upon his mind
He couldn't shake thoughts of her, she stayed on his mind
He kept her picture on his wall,
He held onto a picture of her and displayed it prominently in his life
Went half-crazy now and then
At times, his obsession with her drove him to madness
He still loved her through it all,
Despite everything, he never stopped loving her
Hoping she'd come back again
He held onto his love for her, wishing she'd return to him
Kept some letters by his bed
He held onto old letters from her
Dated nineteen sixty-two
These letters were from a long time ago
He had underlined in red
He marked in red all the times she wrote "I love you"
Every single "I love you"
He cherished every time she expressed her love for him
I went to see him just today,
On this particular day, I visited him
Oh but I didn't see no tears
Surprisingly, he wasn't visibly upset or emotional
All dressed up to go away, first time
It was the first time in a long time that he was ready to move on from his love for her
I'd seen him smile in years
It had been years since he'd smiled, but he was finally content
He stopped loving her today
Finally, his love for her came to an end
They placed a wreath upon his door
Upon his passing, mourners placed a wreath on his door
And soon they'll carry him away
His loved ones will soon bury him
You know,
It's important to note that
She came to see him one last time.
In the end, she visited him for the last time.
Aww, 'n' we all wondered if she would.
It was a question amongst all whether or not she would show up.
And it kept runnin' through my mind
I couldn't get the thought out of my head
"This time he's over her for good."
This time, his love for her was truly over and could not be rekindled.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bobby Braddock, Curly Putman
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