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.
Meet Me In Heaven
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where the mountains lean down to the sand
We saw blackbirds circling 'round an old castle keep
And I stood on the cliff and held your hand
We walked troubles brooding wind swept hills
And we loved and we laughed the pain away
At the end of the journey, when our last song is sung
Can't be sure of how's it's going to be
When we walk into the light across the bar
But I'll know you and you'll know me
Out there beyond the stars
We've seen the secret things revealed by God
And we heard what the angels had to say
Should you go first, or if you follow me
Will you meet me in Heaven someday
Living in a mansion on the streets of gold
At the corner of Grace and Rapture Way
And sweet ecstasy while the ages roll
Will you meet me in Heaven someday
In sweet ecstasy while the ages roll
Will you meet in Heaven someday
The lyrics of Johnny Cash's song "Meet Me In Heaven" touch on themes of love, loss, and the mysteries of the afterlife. The opening line describes a surreal scene of houses falling from the sky, evoking a sense of chaos and instability. Yet amidst this upheaval, the singer finds solace in the presence of their loved one, standing on a cliff and holding hands. The following verse speaks of walking through difficult times together, finding moments of joy and laughter to ease the pain.
As the song progresses, the focus shifts to the uncertainty of what lies beyond death. The singer acknowledges that they cannot be sure what awaits them in the afterlife, but trusts that they will recognize their partner's spirit and be reunited with them. The final verse paints a vivid picture of a heavenly existence, living in a mansion on the streets of gold with a sense of "sweet ecstasy". The chorus repeats the plea to "meet me in Heaven someday", emphasizing the desire for reunion and companionship in the great unknown.
Overall, "Meet Me In Heaven" is a poignant meditation on the interconnectedness of human experience and the enduring power of love. It acknowledges the inevitability of death and mystery of the afterlife, but finds comfort in the idea of a reunion with a beloved partner.
Line by Line Meaning
We saw houses falling from the sky
We witnessed unprecedented events like houses falling from the sky. It showed us how uncertain the world can be.
Where the mountains lean down to the sand
These events occurred in a place where the mountains meet the sand, where two worlds come together. A place of change and transformation.
We saw blackbirds circling 'round an old castle keep
We observed nature's mystery and magic when we saw blackbirds circling an old castle keep. It showed us there is more than what meets the eye.
And I stood on the cliff and held your hand
In the midst of all this wonder and uncertainty, I stood by you and held your hand. Together we faced it all.
We walked troubles brooding wind swept hills
We faced difficult times like walking through windy hills, but we found a way to overcome and even find joy through it all.
And we loved and we laughed the pain away
Our love and laughter helped us forget about the pain and struggle that we faced. It brought us closer together.
At the end of the journey, when our last song is sung
When we reach the end of our journey and our time is up, we will have one final song to sing. It's a reminder that life is fleeting and we should cherish every moment.
Will you meet me in Heaven someday
In the end, we hope to reunite in heaven. It's a place of peace and joy, where we will be free from all the troubles of this world.
Can't be sure of how's it's going to be
We can't be certain of what heaven will be like, but we have faith that it will be a beautiful, peaceful place.
When we walk into the light across the bar
We believe that when we pass away and enter heaven, we will walk into the light and be greeted by those who have passed before us. It's a symbol of hope and happiness.
But I'll know you and you'll know me
Even though we can't be sure of what heaven will be like, we are sure that we will recognize and know each other. Our love and connection is eternal.
Out there beyond the stars
Heaven is beyond what we can see and understand. It's a place of mystery and wonder, where anything is possible.
We've seen the secret things revealed by God
We have experienced moments of divinity and glimpses of the things that God has created. It has shown us how grand and beautiful the universe is.
And we heard what the angels had to say
We have heard the divine messages from angels, which has given us hope and faith in something greater than ourselves.
Should you go first, or if you follow me
Whether you pass before me or I before you, we will eventually come together again in heaven.
Living in a mansion on the streets of gold
Heaven is often depicted as a place of grandeur and wealth, where we will live in mansions made of gold.
At the corner of Grace and Rapture Way
This is a metaphorical description of where heaven is located. It's a place where we will be saved by grace and taken into rapture.
And sweet ecstasy while the ages roll
In heaven, we will experience pure happiness and joy, which will never end even as time goes on.
Will you meet me in Heaven someday
This is a hopeful and comforting message that we will eventually reunite in heaven. It's a reminder to cherish the time we have on earth and to look forward to something greater beyond this life.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JOHNNY R. CASH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
miss babydoll
Goodbye to you my trusted friend
We've known each other since we were nine or ten
Together we've climbed hills and trees
Learned of love and ABC's
Skinned our hearts and skinned our knees
Goodbye my friend it's hard to die
When all the birds are singing in the sky
Now that spring is in the air
Pretty girls are everywhere
Think of me and I'll be there
We had joy, we had fun
We had seasons in the sun
But the hills that we climbed
Were just seasons out of time
Goodbye Papa please pray for me
I was the black sheep of the family
You tried to teach me right from wrong
Too much wine and too much song
Wonder how I got along
Goodbye Papa it's hard to die
When all the birds are singing in the sky
Now that the spring is in the air
Little children everywhere
When you see them, I'll be there
We had joy, we had fun
We had seasons in the sun
But the wine and the song
Like the seasons have all gone
We had joy, we had fun
We had seasons in the sun
But the wine and the song
Like the seasons have all gone
Goodbye Michelle my little one
You gave me love and helped me find the sun
And every time that I was down
You would always come around
And get my feet back on the ground
Goodbye Michelle it's hard to die
When all the birds are singing in the sky
Now that the spring is in the air
With the flowers everywhere
I wish that we could both be there
Danny Nelson
My dad was a huge Cash fan, as am I. I had it played at his funeral service and I know my pop heard it.
glen king
A thing of beauty from the great voice of Cash.
Terry Glad
Dedicating this to my beautiful husband 37 years married, who died on Thanksgiving Day 2021. I miss him so much. We will together again when it is my time to join him. I love you George.♾
saunieh
I’ve always loved Johnny & June but never knew of this song until now. It’s beautiful!
Torena Neburi
Rest in Peace Johnny and Jack Cash. You guys brought me so much joy~
Alex Parez
Such a great song, thank you so much for posting this!!
Sean 64
Rest in peace johnny and June you brought joy and wisdom to this world
Barry smith
I've arranged for this song to be played at my funeral, 72 now but I hope its not for a few years yet. I've seen Johnny Cash live on stage in 1980 & 1990 GREAT both times
Eric Schryver
Congratulations on a long life and many more years. Make the mist of it till your last breath.
LML
Prayers for many years