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.
If Jesus Ever Loved A Woman
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Was the woman that He loved
If Jesus ever loved a woman
It was Mary Magdalene
His life was pure perfection
And He never did no sin, nor lust nor greed
And He fell to no temptation
And many were the women and the men
Who followed each place He was seen
From seven dirty devils
Did He free the soul of Mary Magdalene
If Jesus ever loved a woman, I think Mary Magdalene
Was the woman, Jesus loved
If Jesus ever loved a woman
It was Mary Magdalene
He never did condemn a man, a woman
Just for being man, or woman
And He always will forgive
If someone tells Him, that they're really truly sorry
But He couldn't stand a hypocrite
A person who'd pretend that they were holy
And we're not
I'd think He'd loved someone like Mary Magdalene, quiet a lot
If Jesus ever loved a woman, I think Mary Magdalene
Was the woman that He loved
If Jesus ever loved a woman, it was Mary Magdalene
If Jesus ever loved a woman, I think Mary Magdalene
Was the woman that He loved
If Jesus ever loved a woman, it was Mary Magdalene
Johnny Cash's song "If Jesus Ever Loved A Woman" is a beautiful track that attempts to explore the relationship between Jesus and Mary Magdalene. The opening lines suggest that if Jesus ever loved a woman, then surely it was Mary Magdalene. The song goes to great lengths to emphasize the idea that Mary was someone special to Jesus, more special than all the other women and men who followed him. The lyrics are also quick to point out that Jesus never fell to any temptation, never committed any sin, and never gave in to any lust or greed. However, the lines that follow suggest that Jesus was human and perhaps needed Mary Magdalene to help him fulfill his human needs.
The song also portrays Jesus as a person who never judged anyone for being who they were. Jesus was always willing to forgive anyone who was sorry and truly repentant. However, the song suggests that Jesus had no time for hypocrites, those who pretended to be holy but were not. The choice of Mary Magdalene as the woman Jesus loved is therefore significant as she was often described as a repentant sinner.
Line by Line Meaning
If Jesus ever loved a woman, I think Mary Magdalene
Mary Magdalene was the woman who Jesus may have loved
Was the woman that He loved
Mary Magdalene was the woman who Jesus loved
If Jesus ever loved a woman
Jesus may have loved a woman
It was Mary Magdalene
That woman was Mary Magdalene
His life was pure perfection
Jesus led an ideal life
And He never did no sin, nor lust nor greed
Jesus never sinned or acted selfishly
And He fell to no temptation
Jesus never succumbed to temptation
And only did His Father know about His human need
Jesus's earthly needs were known only to God
And many were the women and the men
Many people followed Jesus
Who followed each place He was seen
These people would follow Jesus to wherever He went
From seven dirty devils
Mary Magdalene had seven demons inside her
Did He free the soul of Mary Magdalene
Jesus released Mary Magdalene from her demons
He never did condemn a man, a woman
Jesus never judged people based on their gender
Just for being man, or woman
Jesus did not discriminate by gender
And He always will forgive
Jesus is always ready to forgive
If someone tells Him, that they're really truly sorry
If someone confesses and apologizes, Jesus forgives them
But He couldn't stand a hypocrite
Jesus detests hypocrites
A person who'd pretend that they were holy
Someone who fakes piety is a hypocrite
And we're not
As humans, we are not perfect
I'd think He'd loved someone like Mary Magdalene, quiet a lot
Jesus may have loved someone like Mary Magdalene very much
Contributed by Juliana W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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