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 Fly Away
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll fly away.
To that home on God's celestial shore,
I'll fly away.
I'll fly away, oh glory, I'll fly away.
When I die, Hallelujah, by and by,
I'll fly away.
I'll fly away.
To that land where joy will never end,
I'll fly away.
I'll fly away, oh glory, I'll fly away.
When I die, Hallelujah, by and by,
I'll fly away.
Oh I'll fly away, oh glory, I'll fly away in the morning
When I die, Hallelujah, by and by,
I'll fly away.
The lyrics to Johnny Cash's song "I'll Fly Away" speak of the human desire to escape the hardships of life and find eternal peace in the afterlife. The song points to a future where the struggles of this earthly existence - the "weary days" - are gone and replaced with a place of joy where there is no end to happiness. The lyrics express the singer's yearning for that ultimate freedom - the freedom to leave this life and fly away to their heavenly home.
The repetition of the phrase "I'll fly away" reinforces the idea that the singer is looking forward to a future where they can finally let go of their earthly concerns and achieve their goal of reaching their eternal home. They have faith that one day they will be "carried" by angels and will "rise" with Jesus to this final destination.
The song also touches on the element of hope that is a key aspect of religious faith. The singer knows that their time on earth is limited, but they look toward the future with joyful anticipation, confident that they will one day "fly away" and enter into the eternal rest that has been promised to them.
In summary, "I'll Fly Away" is a song about the desire for eternal peace and the hope that comes from faith. It expresses the idea that when this life is over, we can leave our earthly concerns behind and finally reach the home we have been yearning for.
Line by Line Meaning
Some glad morning when this life is o'er,
One day in the future, when my life on Earth is done,
I'll fly away.
I will ascend to heaven upon my death.
To that home on God's celestial shore,
I will go to God's home, which is in heaven.
I'll fly away, oh glory, I'll fly away.
I will ascend to heaven, and it will be glorious.
When I die, Hallelujah, by and by,
After I die, there will be praise and rejoicing.
I'll fly away.
I will ascend to heaven upon my death.
Just a few more weary days and then,
I only have a few more days left of this tiring life on Earth,
I'll fly away.
then I will ascend to heaven upon my death.
To that land where joy will never end,
I will go to a place where there will be eternal happiness.
I'll fly away, oh glory, I'll fly away.
I will ascend to heaven, and it will be glorious.
Oh I'll fly away, oh glory, I'll fly away in the morning
I will joyfully ascend to heaven in the morning.
When I die, Hallelujah, by and by,
After I die, there will be praise and rejoicing.
I'll fly away.
I will ascend to heaven upon my death.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: Gary Davis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@opallb
This was my mother's favorite song. She passed this morning, thank you for posting it.
@Reagan-fg2xq
And how is the things been since it?
@Runningon77
Very sad song, but it makes me happy to hear it. It lifts my soul and gives me hope. Plus no one sings it like Johnny. R.I.P.
@hirdy6
Not sad, it speaks of flying to glory after death.
@ljohnchanged3628
There's nothing sad about going home to our Heavenly Father. God Bless.. .
@nathanjohnson5378
This was played at my dad's funeral, and I sing it to him every time I visit his grave.. RIP Dad.. and thank you Johnny .. RIP
@alexmercer936
My grandfather passed away and he loved this song. We played it at his funeral. I know he's looking down on me now...
@maddiemoye1428
Alex Mercer exactly same my great grandpa died and today is the 3 year anniversary of his death.they played this at hi funeral
@fordranchero1781
same thing happened to me
@kbchildress22
Alex Mercer we played this at my grandpa's funeral. we had a recording of him singing it though. man I miss him. 😭