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 Am A Pilgrim
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Traveling through this wearisome land
I've got a home in that yonder city, good lord
And it's not, not made by hand
I've got a mother, sister and a brother
Who have gone this way before
I am determined to go and see them, good lord
I'm goin' down to the river of Jordan
Just to bathe my wearisome soul
If I can just touch the hem of his garment, good lord
Then I know he'd take me home
I am a pilgrim and a stranger
Traveling through this wearisome land
I've got a home in that yonder city, good lord
And it's not, not made by hand
The song "I Am A Pilgrim" by Johnny Cash is a gospel-infused track about the singer's journey through life. The first verse sets the tone for the song by describing the singer as a pilgrim and a stranger traveling through a wearisome land. The use of the word "pilgrim" evokes religious connotations as it refers to someone who is on a journey to a holy place. The wearisome land symbolizes the challenges and difficulties that the singer is experiencing in life. However, despite these struggles, the singer is optimistic as he believes he has a home in a city beyond this world, a city that is not made by human hands, but by a higher power.
The second verse of the song further reveals that the singer has family members who have already passed away and are waiting for him on the other shore. The use of the phrase "other shore" suggests another world or an afterlife. The singer is determined to join them and be reunited with his loved ones.
In the final verse, the singer mentions going down to the river of Jordan to cleanse his soul. This is a reference to the Bible where John the Baptist baptized Jesus in the river of Jordan. The singer hopes that by touching the hem of Jesus' garment, he will be taken home to that yonder city he's been talking about.
Overall, "I Am A Pilgrim" is a spiritual song about finding hope and meaning in life through faith in something beyond what is tangible and visible to us.
Line by Line Meaning
I am a pilgrim and a stranger
I am a traveler who doesn't belong to this world
Traveling through this wearisome land
Going through this difficult and tiresome journey
I've got a home in that yonder city, good lord
Knowing that my real home is in the afterlife
And it's not, not made by hand
It's not something that can be created or taken away by human hands
I've got a mother, sister and a brother
I have family who have also passed on to the afterlife before me
Who have gone this way before
Who have experienced the same journey as me
I am determined to go and see them, good lord
I am committed to reaching the afterlife to reunite with my loved ones
For they're on that other shore
They are waiting for me on the other side of life
I'm goin' down to the river of Jordan
I am going to the river that symbolizes the crossing into the afterlife
Just to bathe my wearisome soul
To cleanse my tired soul before crossing over
If I can just touch the hem of his garment, good lord
If I can just have a moment with God and feel his presence
Then I know he'd take me home
Then I know I will be ready to cross over to the afterlife
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG Rights Management, Songtrust Ave
Written by: MERLE TRAVIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bruder Andreas
Songtext:
I am a pilgrim and a stranger travelling through this wearisome land.
I′ve got a home in that yonder City (good Lord) and it's not not made by hand.
I got a mother, got a sister and a brother, who have gone this way before.
I am determined to go and see them, (good Lord) over on that other shore.
I am a pilgrim and a stranger travelling through this wearisome land.
I′ve got a home in that yonder city (good Lord) and it's not not made by hand.
Now I'm goin′ down to that river of Jordan just to bathe my wearisome soul.
If I can just touch the hem of His garment, (good Lord) Then I know he′ll take me home.
I am a pilgrim and a stranger travelling through this wearisome land.
I've got a home in that yonder city (good Lord) And it′s not not made by hand.
Joseph Dean
A great song on a fabulous album "My Mother's Hymn Book". I remember hearing this a long time ago. Having just turned 75, it takes on new meaning. Be blessed as you listen.
Poopy
I’m 26. God bless Joe!
jaydeutscher
I loved this song as a kid. Now, as an aging man, I love it in a completely different way, unabashed by my tears...
Brian E. Reinecke
Among the songs that I played for my mother and anyone who visited her as she was passing from this life. Thanks for sharing.
Walker Kaden
one song I hear about 12 years ago went to art class because our art teacher love johnny cash everyday
Dan Hack
Amen !
Uwe Meder
Wonderfull! Yes we got a eternal home!
Bruder Andreas
Songtext:
I am a pilgrim and a stranger travelling through this wearisome land.
I′ve got a home in that yonder City (good Lord) and it's not not made by hand.
I got a mother, got a sister and a brother, who have gone this way before.
I am determined to go and see them, (good Lord) over on that other shore.
I am a pilgrim and a stranger travelling through this wearisome land.
I′ve got a home in that yonder city (good Lord) and it's not not made by hand.
Now I'm goin′ down to that river of Jordan just to bathe my wearisome soul.
If I can just touch the hem of His garment, (good Lord) Then I know he′ll take me home.
I am a pilgrim and a stranger travelling through this wearisome land.
I've got a home in that yonder city (good Lord) And it′s not not made by hand.
Dorothyellen w
This is good. But I'm looking in vain for another song of that name and none of these has that melody. In Great Songs of the Church "I'm a Pilgrim" goes "I'm a pilgrim and I'm a stranger, I can tarry, I can tarry but a night. Do not detain me, for I am going to where the fountains are ever flowing, I'm a pilgrim [etc.]"
Mystic Poet
Curtis your comment is bat crazy