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.
I'll Cry for You
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Give me just a minute more
To help me over all the days that I'll be blue
Take my lips and kiss me gently
'Cause I know that like before
When you leave me all alone I'll cry for you
I haven't got the right to ask for love or sympathy
But all I'm asking for is just a little memory
'Cause I know that when you go I'll cry for you
I'll sit and watch the window and I'll pray that you will come
But at the end of every day I'll still be blue
I'll think of all the chances that I had to keep you mine
And like I've done a million times I'll cry for you
Memories that come and linger make me wish we'd never met
Because it seems they're gonna break my heart in two
Either give me love forevermore or help me to forget
'Cause when you're gone far away I'll cry for you
I'll sit and watch the window and I'll pray that you will come
But at the end of every day I'll still be blue
I'll think of all the chances that I had to keep you mine
And like I've done a million times I'll cry for you
The lyrics of Johnny Cash's "I'll Cry For You" depict the feeling of longing and sadness for a lost love. The song is a plea from the singer to his love, asking her to hold him for a moment longer and give him a little memory to remember her by. He knows that when she leaves, he will be sad and cry for her.
The lyrics convey a sense of regret and self-reflection, as the singer acknowledges that he has made mistakes and does not feel deserving of a second chance. He wishes for either a lasting love or the ability to forget, as memories of his lost love are painful and overwhelming.
The chorus of the song is particularly poignant, as the singer describes how he will sit and watch the window, praying that his love will return, but knowing that he will still be sad and cry for her. The repetition of this chorus throughout the song emphasizes the singer's deep sense of loss and the emotional impact that his love has had on him.
Overall, "I'll Cry For You" is a beautiful and heartfelt ballad that captures the universal experience of heartbreak and the longing for lost love.
Line by Line Meaning
Take me in your arms and hold me
Hold me tight and don't let me go
Give me just a minute more
Stay with me a little bit longer
To help me over all the days that I'll be blue
Comfort me through the sad times that are coming
Take my lips and kiss me gently
Give me a soft and loving kiss
'Cause I know that like before
I know that it's going to happen again
When you leave me all alone I'll cry for you
I'll be sad and cry when you're gone
I haven't got the right to ask for love or sympathy
I don't deserve to ask for your love or compassion
After I did all the things I shouldn't do
After I made mistakes that hurt you
But all I'm asking for is just a little memory
All I want is to be remembered
'Cause I know that when you go I'll cry for you
I know I'll be sad and cry when you leave
I'll sit and watch the window and I'll pray that you will come
I'll wait and hope for you to come back
But at the end of every day I'll still be blue
I'll still be sad at the end of each day
I'll think of all the chances that I had to keep you mine
I'll regret missed opportunities to keep you with me
And like I've done a million times I'll cry for you
I'll cry for you like I've done so many times before
Memories that come and linger make me wish we'd never met
Memories of you make me wish we had never met
Because it seems they're gonna break my heart in two
Because these memories are painful and make me feel heartbroken
Either give me love forevermore or help me to forget
Either love me forever or help me move on
'Cause when you're gone far away I'll cry for you
Because when you're gone, I'll be sad and cry for you
Contributed by Ava S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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