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 Never Picked Cotton
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But my mother did
And my brother did
And my sister did
And my daddy died young
Workin' in a coal mine
When I was just a baby
I played in the dirt
While the others worked
'Til they couldn't straighten up their backs
And I made myself a promise
When I was old enough to run
That I'd never stay a single day
In that Oklahoma sun
And I never picked cotton
Like my mother did
And my brother did
And my sister did
And my daddy died young
Workin' in a coal mine
Folks said that I grew up early
And the farm couldn't hold me then
So I stole ten bucks and a pickup truck
And I never went back again
And it was fast cars and whiskey
Long legged girls and fun
I had everything that money could bring
And I took it all with a gun
And I never picked cotton
Like my mother did
And my brother did
And my sister did
And my daddy died young
Workin' in a coal mine
It was Saturday night in Memphis
When a redneck grabbed my shirt
And he said go back to your cotton sack
I left him lying in the dirt
And they'll take me in the morning
To the gallows just outside
And in the time I got
There ain't a hell of a lot
I can look back on with pride
But I never picked cotton
Like my mother did
And my brother did
And my sister did
And my daddy died young
Workin' in a coal mine
I never picked cotton
Like my mother did
And my brother did
And my sister did
And my daddy died young
Workin' in a coal mine
The lyrics of "I Never Picked Cotton" by Johnny Cash speak of his life growing up in Oklahoma, where his family members labored in the cotton fields, except for himself. Although too small to work, he promised himself that he would never toil under the Oklahoma sun like the rest of his family members. He later left the farm when he was old enough to run, seeking adventure, fun, and money, which he collected through illegal means, including theft and gun violence. Despite his life of crime, when he is near death, he reflects on the fact that he never picked cotton, unlike his family members, who worked hard in the cotton fields. He has regret for the life he has lived, and it seems that what he wished he had was a more moral and honest life like the ones his family members lived, despite their struggles.
The song captures the enduring American stereotype of the South, which held that the region was rural, agricultural, and poor. Cash sings of a life that is emblematic of the desire felt by many Southerners to leave the South in search of a better life. Cash’s character tasted the bright lights of Memphis, fast cars, and whiskey, but found that a life of crime did not bring true happiness or fulfillment. The song also reflects the profound respect for manual labor that southern working-class culture has embodied throughout its history.
Line by Line Meaning
I never picked cotton
I have never worked as a cotton picker.
But my mother did
My mother worked as a cotton picker.
And my brother did
My brother worked as a cotton picker.
And my sister did
My sister worked as a cotton picker.
And my daddy died young
My father passed away at a young age.
Workin' in a coal mine
He was working at a coal mine when he died.
When I was just a baby
When I was very young,
Too little for the cotton sack
I was too young to work in the cotton fields.
I played in the dirt
I spent my time playing in the dirt.
While the others worked
While my family members were working.
'Til they couldn't straighten up their backs
Until their backs were too sore and tired to continue working.
And I made myself a promise
I promised myself.
When I was old enough to run
When I grew up and could leave home.
That I'd never stay a single day
That I would never remain in that place.
In that Oklahoma sun
In the hot sun in Oklahoma where we lived.
Folks said that I grew up early
People said that I matured quickly.
And the farm couldn't hold me then
I outgrew the farm and needed to leave.
So I stole ten bucks and a pickup truck
I took ten dollars and a truck without permission.
And I never went back again
I never returned to the farm again.
And it was fast cars and whiskey
I enjoyed driving fast cars and drinking whiskey.
Long legged girls and fun
I enjoyed the company of tall women and had fun with my life.
I had everything that money could bring
I had everything that money could buy.
And I took it all with a gun
I obtained things with a weapon in my possession.
It was Saturday night in Memphis
It was a Saturday evening in the city of Memphis.
When a redneck grabbed my shirt
A redneck person grabbed my shirt.
And he said go back to your cotton sack
He demanded that I return to working in the cotton fields.
I left him lying in the dirt
I attacked him and left him on the ground.
And they'll take me in the morning
They will catch me in the morning.
To the gallows just outside
I will be taken to the gallows to be executed soon.
And in the time I got
Before I am caught.
There ain't a hell of a lot
There isn't much left.
I can look back on with pride
That I can be proud of in my past.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOBBY GEORGE, CHARLIE WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Abbott Vanderwagen
I will treasure this forever!
Elizabeth Haines
God Bless The Man in Black! Johnny Cash is a Legend! RIP 💙
Brian Findlay
Absolute legend.
DickDitty
When I was a young man, it never occurred to my thinking that I would ever miss Johnny Cash. But now I ain't; and yes I do sorely.
Dean Murray
I'm with you Mr Cash
Mad Microtus
I had a dream the other night where I played and sang this song on a stage in front of a small audience of maybe 50-100 people
John Clayton Cole
I miss this legend
SUE clark
He does it up good ,too.ive always heard it by Roy Clark.
Waylon Frazee
Best singer ever thanks for posting
John Grace
When I had heard this song being performed by Roy Clark, I thought I had heard it being performed. But Cash outperformed the original. Still love Roy, but this song now belongs to Johnny Cash. His is the only version I want now to hear.