Johnny Cash (born J.R. Cash; February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an… Read Full Bio ↴Johnny Cash (born J.R. Cash; February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an American singer, guitarist, actor, songwriter, author. He is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, having sold more than 90 million records worldwide. Although primarily remembered as a country music icon, his genre-spanning songs and sound embraced rock and roll, rockabilly, blues, folk, and gospel.

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.

Joy To The World
Johnny Cash Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Joy to the world, the Lord is come
Let Earth receive her King

Let every heart prepare Him room
And Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven and Heaven and nature sing

Joy to the Earth, the Savior reigns
Let men their songs employ

While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy

He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove

The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
And wonders, wonders of His love

Joy to the world, the Savior reigns
Joy to the world, the Lord is come

Overall Meaning

Johnny Cash's version of the hymn "Joy to the World" is a beautiful interpretation of the familiar Christmas song. The first verse acknowledges the coming of the Lord, and implores Earth to receive its King. The second verse calls for people to prepare their hearts to receive the Lord, so that all of creation can join in singing the praises and joys of His arrival. The third verse proclaims that the Savior reigns over the Earth, and encourages all people to employ their songs in celebration of His glory. The final verse speaks to the truth and righteousness that the Lord brings to the world, and the wonders of His love.

What is particularly noteworthy about Cash's version of the song is the simplicity and eloquence with which he delivers the lyrics. Despite the familiar words, Cash lends a power and emotion to the hymn that gives it a sense of urgency and meaning. The simplicity of the lyrics is also made even more poignant by the accompanying instrumentation, which is minimalist in nature and allows the focus to remain on the beautiful words that Cash so carefully crafted.

Johnny Cash's "Joy to the World" is a beautiful rendition of a familiar song that reminds us of the power and joy that comes with the Savior's arrival. The lyrics, delivered with Cash's trademark simplicity and emotion, allow us to truly feel the wonder and beauty of the event. With its message of love and hope, this hymn remains a touchstone for millions of people around the world.

Line by Line Meaning

Joy to the world, the Lord is come
Happy news, the Lord has arrived

Let Earth receive her King
May the Earth welcome their ruler

Let every heart prepare Him room
May everyone open their hearts for His arrival

And Heaven and nature sing
Even the Heavens and nature celebrate

And Heaven and Heaven and nature sing
Even more, the Heavens and nature rejoice

Joy to the Earth, the Savior reigns
Happy news, the Savior is in control of the Earth

Let men their songs employ
Let people sing in praise

While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
As everything around us, such as fields, floods, rocks, hills, and plains

Repeat the sounding joy
Join in the celebration once again

Repeat, repeat the sounding joy
Keep the celebration going

He rules the world with truth and grace
He governs the world with honesty and kindness

And makes the nations prove
And causes the nations to demonstrate

The glories of His righteousness
How great and good He is

And wonders of His love
And the amazing things He does out of love

And wonders, wonders of His love
And the countless amazing things He does out of love

Joy to the world, the Savior reigns
Happy news, the Savior is in control

Joy to the world, the Lord is come
Happy news, the Lord has arrived

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: DAVID DELARGY, MIKE HEDGES, SALLY HERBERT, SALLI ISAAK, EUGENE O'HAGAN, MARTIN O'HAGAN, TRAD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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