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.
Mama You Been On My Mind
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I won't be next to you
You know I won't be near
I'd be curious to know if your reflection is as clear
As the one that I've got on my mind
Mama you been on my mind
Well perhaps it's the wind
The crossroads that I'm at
And maybe it's the weather or somethin' like that
But mama, you been on my mind
Mama, you been on my mind
Well I don't need trouble please don't put me down, don't get upset
I am not pleading I won't say I'll forget
And I won't pace a floor bowed down and bent, but yet
Mama you been on my mind
Mama you been on my mind
Even though my mind is hazy and my thoughts are kinda narrow
Where you been don't bother me
Or bring me down with sorrow
It don't matter to me where you'll be waking up tomorrow
But mama you been on my mind
Mama you been on my mind
The lyrics of Johnny Cash's song Mama You Been On My Mind convey a sense of longing and regret. The song depicts an individual who wakes up in the morning, looks in the mirror, and realizes that their loved one is not there. The singer expresses curiosity about their loved one's reflection and wonders if it's as clear as the one they have in their mind. The person they are singing to is referred to as "mama," suggesting she could be an actual mother or perhaps a term of endearment.
Throughout the song, the singer seems to be grappling with their emotions. They admit that their mind is hazy, and their thoughts are narrow. However, they still can't help but think about the person they are singing about. The line "where you been don't bother me" could mean that the person has moved on, and the singer doesn't want to be bothered by the pain of knowing where they are or what they are doing. Ultimately, the singer emphasizes their feelings by saying, "mama, you been on my mind."
The overall message in the song is expressing a love that is hard to let go of. The singer seems to be struggling to move on from their loved one, and despite their attempts to stop thinking about them, they can't seem to forget them. The longing and emotional pain conveyed in Johnny Cash's Mama You Been on My Mind is a testament to the depth of emotions that love can evoke.
Line by Line Meaning
When you wake up in the morning baby, look inside your mirror
As you start a new day, take a moment to reflect on yourself.
I won't be next to you
I won't physically be by your side.
You know I won't be near
I won't be close to you.
I'd be curious to know if your reflection is as clear
I wonder if you truly understand yourself.
As the one that I've got on my mind
The image of you in my mind is crystal clear.
Mama you been on my mind
I've been thinking a lot about you lately.
Well perhaps it's the wind
Maybe it's just the elements affecting my mood.
And the dark dark night that's covering
The darkness of the night is making me feel melancholy.
The crossroads that I'm at
I'm at a turning point in my life.
And maybe it's the weather or somethin' like that
Perhaps it's just the climate or some other factor affecting me.
But mama, you been on my mind
Despite these external factors, I can't stop thinking about you.
Well I don't need trouble please don't put me down, don't get upset
I don't want any conflict or negativity from you.
I am not pleading I won't say I'll forget
I'm not begging for your attention and I won't pretend to forget about you.
And I won't pace a floor bowed down and bent, but yet
I won't let my thoughts consume me entirely.
Mama you been on my mind
I can't shake you from my thoughts.
Even though my mind is hazy and my thoughts are kinda narrow
Although my mind is clouded and my thoughts are limited.
Where you been don't bother me
I don't care where you've been.
Or bring me down with sorrow
Your absence won't sadden me.
It don't matter to me where you'll be waking up tomorrow
Your whereabouts are insignificant to me.
But mama you been on my mind
Despite all of this, I can't stop thinking about you.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bob Dylan
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