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 Drove Her Out Of My Mind
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And ran off with someone new
'Cause he bought her things
My wages couldn't buy
So I turned to ups and downers
And everything between
Still I can't get her good lovin'
Off my mind
Well today I bought a Cadillac
The kind she's always wanted
I called and asked her
If she'd like to ride
She said this is our last date
I said that's alright with me
'Cause tonight I'm driving her
Out of my mind
Yeah I'll take her on a scenic cruise
Right off of Lookout Mountain
Cause she said I never took her out
When she was mine
She'll see all seven states
As we drive to the pearly gates
Tonight when I drive her
Out of my mind
All the papers will read "Lovers leap
Again off Lookout Mountain"
'Cause I wrote a note
That called it suicide
But my epitaph will say
"He killed his pain yesterday
When he finally drove that woman Off his mind"
Well now here she comes to greet me
Dressed to kill and so am I
Hope she asks me if this
Cadillac will fly
And I know that I'll die laughin'
When I show her that it will
When I drive that woman
Right out of my mind
Hell I'll take her on a scenic cruise
Right off of Lookout Mountain
'Cause she said I never took her out
When she was mine
She'll see all seven states
As we drive to the pearly gates
Tonight when I drive her
Out of my mind
They'll say Johnny Cash was quite a smash
Down here in Chattanooga
Last night when he drove her
Out of his mind
Yeah that Cadillac dealer's in for a big surprise too
99 dollars down, 99 dollars a month
Yeah it's gonna be just gorgeous
(Ooh to the pearly gates)
(Ooh to the pearly gates)
(Ooh to the pearly gates)
The lyrics of Johnny Cash's "I Drove Her Out of My Mind" are a clear example of a bitter heartbreak turned into bitter revenge. The singer tells us how he's been abandoned by his girlfriend who's run away with another, richer man. Fueled with pain and heartbreak, he turns to drugs and alcohol to numb the pain but nothing seems to help him forget about her. Then, he buys a Cadillac, the very car she's always wanted, and to add more insult to injury, he invites her on a "last date," only to drive her off a cliff in a murder-suicide that's disguised as a tragic accident. The lyrics are full of contempt for the woman he once loved, as he speaks of her in harsh tones while fantasizing about her death. Yet, the song is also about how the pain and obsession of a broken heart can drive a person to the brink of madness.
The backstory behind the song is also interesting, as it was originally written by Wayne Kemp, a struggling songwriter from South Carolina who had previously worked in a textile factory before starting his music career. He wrote the song as a tongue-in-cheek response to his own failed relationships, and it was first recorded by George Jones in 1974. However, it was Cash's version that made it a hit in 1978, and it quickly became a fan favorite, despite its dark lyrics. The song's popularity also spurred a wave of controversy, as some radio stations refused to play it because of its violent message.
Line by Line Meaning
She gave me my walking papers
She ended our relationship
And ran off with someone new
She started dating someone else
'Cause he bought her things
She left me for someone richer
My wages couldn't buy
I couldn't afford to buy her expensive things
So I turned to ups and downers
I started using drugs to cope with the breakup
And everything between
I tried other solutions too
Still I can't get her good lovin'
I still can't stop thinking about her
Off my mind
I can't forget about her
Well today I bought a Cadillac
I bought a luxury car
The kind she's always wanted
It's the car she's always desired
I called and asked her
I invited her to take a ride in it
If she'd like to ride
I asked if she wants to go for a ride
She said this is our last date
She agreed to go but it's the last time
I said that's alright with me
I'm okay with that
'Cause tonight I'm driving her
This is my last chance to get back at her
Out of my mind
To forget about her once and for all
Yeah I'll take her on a scenic cruise
We'll go on a beautiful drive
Right off of Lookout Mountain
It'll start off in this location
Cause she said I never took her out
She claimed I didn't take her out
When she was mine
When we were still together
She'll see all seven states
We'll visit all of the seven states
As we drive to the pearly gates
We'll be in Heaven before she knows it
All the papers will read "Lovers leap
People will assume it's a romantic experience
Again off Lookout Mountain"
Just like other couples have done in the past
'Cause I wrote a note
It'll seem like suicide note
That called it suicide
It'll make it seem like she died
But my epitaph will say
My tombstone will reveal my true emotion
"He killed his pain yesterday
The pain of breaking up wears me down
When he finally drove that woman
Driving her away clears out my mind
Off his mind"
I don't have to think about her anymore
Well now here she comes to greet me
She's here now
Dressed to kill and so am I
We both dress up for the occasion
Hope she asks me if this
I want her to ask me this question
Cadillac will fly
Imagine if the car could fly
And I know that I'll die laughin'
I'll laugh so hard it might kill me
When I show her that it will
If magical stuff happened
When I drive that woman
When I finally get her into the car
Right out of my mind
I'll finally forget about her
They'll say Johnny Cash was quite a smash
People will remember this event
Down here in Chattanooga
This is the location of the event
Last night when he drove her
This event happened at night
Out of his mind
I was so blinded by love before but not anymore
Yeah that Cadillac dealer's in for a big surprise too
I made a big purchase and it's a surprise to the salesman
99 dollars down, 99 dollars a month
The payment plan that I got from the dealer
Yeah it's gonna be just gorgeous
The Cadillac is a luxurious car
(Ooh to the pearly gates)
I'm excited for this new beginning
(Ooh to the pearly gates)
I'm excited for this new beginning
(Ooh to the pearly gates)
I'm excited for this new beginning
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GARY LEE GENTRY, HILLMAN HALL
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