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 Just Don't Care Enough
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And there'll be that many
More when you're goin'
You're just one out of many
It's easy to forget you
'Cause I just don't care enough to carry on
I haven't broken every heart that
I haven't cherished any love or
Begged one girl to stay
So don't think that you only
Stay away don't phone me
'Cause I just don't have the
Time to fool with you
Of all the dozen others I
Knew before I met you
I only said well maybe she's the one
But true love wouldn't cheat me but
You did and I let you
You proved untrue so know leave me alone
I thought you surely were the one
I wanted for my wife
But I can't stand a cheatin' heart
To live with all my life
I've only been your pastime so
Darlin' for the last time
I just don't have the time to fool with you
The lyrics to Johnny Cash's song "I Just Don't Care Enough" depict a narrator who is emotionally detached and unwilling to invest in a romantic relationship. The opening lines suggest that the singer has had numerous previous partners and expects to have many more in the future. This abundance of past and future relationships leads the singer to be indifferent towards the current partner, to the point of forgetting about them easily because they simply do not care enough to sustain the connection.
The following verses express the singer's reluctance to emotionally invest in relationships. They claim not to have broken any hearts, nor to have truly cherished any love or begged someone to stay. The singer advises the current partner not to try and contact them, as they do not have the time or inclination to engage in any further interactions. The lyrics indicate a lack of commitment and an unwillingness to invest emotional energy in someone who has cheated on them. The singer had believed the current partner could be "the one," but the infidelity shattered that trust, leaving no desire to continue the relationship.
Overall, the song conveys a sense of emotional detachment and self-preservation. The singer has been hurt in the past and has learned not to invest too much in romantic relationships. They prioritize their own emotional well-being rather than seeking long-term commitment with someone who has proven unfaithful.
Line by Line Meaning
I had a dozen others before I ever met you
I had multiple romantic partners before I crossed paths with you
And there'll be that many more when you're goin'
And there will be just as many, or even more, after you leave
You're just one out of many
You're just one among a multitude of others
It's easy to forget you
It's effortless for me to let go of any feelings towards you
'Cause I just don't care enough to carry on
Because I simply don't have strong enough emotions to continue this relationship
I haven't broken every heart that chanced to come my way
I haven't intentionally caused emotional pain to every person who crossed my path
I haven't cherished any love or begged one girl to stay
I haven't valued or tried desperately to keep any romantic love
So don't think that you only stay away don't phone me
So, don't expect me to miss you or reach out to me when you're away
'Cause I just don't have the time to fool with you
Because I am not interested or willing to invest my time and energy into dealing with you
Of all the dozen others I knew before I met you
Among all the previous romantic partners I had before our encounter
I only said well, maybe she's the one
I only briefly considered the possibility that you might be the perfect match for me
But true love wouldn't cheat me, but you did and I let you
However, a genuine and faithful love would never betray me, but you did, and I allowed it to happen
You proved untrue, so now leave me alone
Your disloyalty has been confirmed, so please stay away from me
I thought you surely were the one I wanted for my wife
I genuinely believed that you were the perfect person to be my lifelong partner
But I can't stand a cheatin' heart to live with all my life
However, I cannot tolerate a heart that betrays and deceives, as it would be unbearable for me in the long run
I've only been your pastime, so darlin', for the last time
I've only been a temporary amusement for you, so my dear, this will be the final occasion
I just don't have the time to fool with you
I simply don't have the patience or inclination to engage with you anymore
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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