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've Been Working On the Railroad
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
early in the mornin
see the little puffer bellies
all in a row
some folks go to work
and others take vacations
one took Melinda to
californi'O
you didn't see the tea-cakes I brung ya from the fair
I've been working on the railroad
all the live long day
I've been working on the railroad
just to pass the time o'way
can't you hear the whistle blowin'
rise up so early in the morn'
can't you hear the captain shouting
"Dyna blow your horn"
Dyna won't you blow
Dyna won't you blow
Dyna won't you blow your horn
Dyna won't you blow
Dyna won't you blow
Dyna won't you blow your horn
Someone's in the kitchen with Dyna
Someone's in the kitchen I know
Someone's in the kitchen with Dyna
Strumming on that old banjo
and singing
"fee fi fiddly I ohhh
fee fi fiddly I ohhh
fee fi fiddly D'I ohhh"
strumming on that old banjo
Some go to work
and others on vacation
One of 'em took Melinda
to Californi'O
The song "I've Been Working On The Railroad" by Johnny Cash is a classic American folk song that talks about the happenings of a railroad station early in the morning. The song starts by describing the train engines and carriages lined up in a row at the station, ready to transport people to their destinations. A person is seen taking Melinda to Californi'O for vacationing, and the singer urges Melinda not to leave, as he has brought her tea cakes from the fair.
The song's chorus talks about how the singer has been working on the railroad all day, just to pass the time away. The sound of the whistle blowing early in the morning is heard, and the captain is shouting to Dyna to blow her horn. In the final verses of the song, Dyna is seen strumming on an old banjo and singing "fee fi fiddly I ohhh" while someone is cooking in the kitchen with Dyna. The song ends with a final note about people going to work and vacationing, with Melinda being taken for her vacation to Californi'O.
Line by Line Meaning
Down at the station
The singer is at the train station
early in the mornin
It is early in the morning
see the little puffer bellies
Engines are lined up at the station
all in a row
The engines are arranged in a straight line
some folks go to work
Some people are going to work
and others take vacations
Other people are on vacation
one took Melinda to
Someone took Melinda to
californi'O
California
Ohhh don't go Melinda, please don't go
The artist does not want Melinda to leave
you didn't see the tea-cakes I brung ya from the fair
The artist brought tea-cakes from the fair but Melinda did not see them
I've been working on the railroad
The singer has been working on the railroad
all the live long day
The artist has been working all day
just to pass the time o'way
Working on the railroad helps the singer pass time
can't you hear the whistle blowin'
A whistle is blowing
rise up so early in the morn'
The whistle is blowing early in the morning
can't you hear the captain shouting
The captain is shouting
"Dyna blow your horn"
The captain is telling Dyna to blow their horn
Dyna won't you blow
The singer is asking Dyna to blow their horn
Dyna won't you blow
The singer is still asking Dyna to blow their horn
Dyna won't you blow your horn
The artist is asking Dyna to blow their horn again
Someone's in the kitchen with Dyna
Someone is in the kitchen with Dyna
Someone's in the kitchen I know
The artist is sure that someone is in the kitchen with Dyna
Strumming on that old banjo
The person in the kitchen is playing a banjo
and singing
And they are also singing
"fee fi fiddly I ohhh
The lyrics to the song being sung
fee fi fiddly I ohhh
The lyrics to the song being sung
fee fi fiddly D'I ohhh"
The lyrics to the song being sung
Strumming on that old banjo
The person in the kitchen is still playing the banjo
Some go to work
Some people are going to work
and others on vacation
Other people are on vacation
One of 'em took Melinda
Someone took Melinda
to Californi'O
To California
Contributed by William V. 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