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 Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Their old familiar carols play
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth goodwill to men
I thought how as the day had come
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along unbroken song
And in despair I bowed my head
There is no peace on earth I said
For hate is strong that mocks the song
Of peace on earth goodwill to men
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep
God is not dead nor doubt He sleeps
The wrong shall fail the right prevail
With peace on earth goodwill to men
Till ringin' singin' on its way
The world revolve from night to day
A voice a chime a chance so blind
Of peace on earth goodwill to men
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep
God is not dead nor doubt He sleeps
The wrong shall fail the right prevail
With peace on earth goodwill to men
The song “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” by Johnny Cash, is based on the 1863 poem “Christmas Bells” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The poem was written after Longfellow's wife died in a fire and his son was severely injured during the Civil War. The poem reflects Longfellow's despair at the state of the world, and his struggle to see hope during a time of war and personal tragedy.
In the first verse, the familiar sound of Christmas bells playing songs of peace on earth and good will to men is contrasted with the reality of the world, where hate is strong and there is no peace. In the second verse, the singer is in despair, and feels there is no hope for peace in the world. However, in the third verse, the bells ring louder and deeper, to remind us that God is not dead, and that the wrong will fail and the right will prevail with peace on earth and good will to men. The final verse alludes to the idea that the ringing of the bells can bring about change, turning the world from darkness to light, and bringing about the chance for peace.
Line by Line Meaning
I heard the bells on Christmas Day
I listened to the bells ringing on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play
The bells played familiar Christmas carols
And wild and sweet the words repeat
The words of the carols were passionate and sweet as they repeated
Of peace on earth goodwill to men
The words of the carols were promoting peace and goodwill among humankind
I thought how as the day had come
I contemplated how the day had arrived
The belfries of all Christendom
The bell towers of all Christian churches
Had rolled along unbroken song
Had sounded a continuous unbroken song
Of peace on earth goodwill to men
Promoting peace and goodwill among humankind
And in despair I bowed my head
Feeling hopeless and dejected, I lowered my head
There is no peace on earth I said
I uttered that there was no peace on earth
For hate is strong that mocks the song
Hate is so powerful that it ridicules the message of peace in the song
Of peace on earth goodwill to men
Promoting peace and goodwill among humankind
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep
The bells rang louder and deeper
God is not dead nor doubt He sleeps
God is alive and does not sleep
The wrong shall fail the right prevail
The wrong will be defeated and the right will win
With peace on earth goodwill to men
Promoting peace and goodwill among humankind
Till ringin' singin' on its way
Until the sound of ringing and singing
The world revolve from night to day
The world continues to rotate from night to day
A voice a chime a chance so blind
A voice, a chime, and an opportunity that is not clearly understood
Of peace on earth goodwill to men
Promoting peace and goodwill among humankind
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep
The bells rang louder and deeper
God is not dead nor doubt He sleeps
God is alive and does not sleep
The wrong shall fail the right prevail
The wrong will be defeated and the right will win
With peace on earth goodwill to men
Promoting peace and goodwill among humankind
Lyrics © DistroKid, Integrity Music, ST. NICHOLAS MUSIC INC., Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Johnny Marks
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Yolgezer🍁
I am lying sick in the hospital room. All I can see is the blue sea and the blue skyline on the other side of the glass. And this song made me emotional while listening to it. It's like I walked that horizon line. THANK YOU JOHNNY ..
Ingrid S
I hope you are better since last Christmas. Many prayers to you. Johnny Cash's version of this song always brings me tears.
Yolgezer🍁
@Mx Gaming - MSM iam sick
Mx Gaming - MSM
Ew lmao what happened?
Wilbi Mcshane
Take care, mate
AirJordan2007ro Nba
@Yolgezer🍁 come on get well soon. I recommend you to listen little richard tutti frutti again and again
Kurt Lehman
Johnny's version of this wonderful song one of my favorites. Merry Christmas
Edgar Allan Poe
Johnny Cash was, is, and will always be THE man.
Edgar Allan Poe
@FlappinTheJack *Allan. No h.
Also I love your YouTube name: FlappinTheJack lol
FlappinTheJack
Very true famous writer and poet Edgar Allahn Poe