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.
Mister Garfield
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I heard the report of a pistol
I hollered, "I wonder what was that!"
He run out and come back and he said
"That was a report of a pistol"
And I thought I was gonna faint when he said it
Mr. Garfield's been shot down low"
Lord, I knew the President was supposed to be down the depot that day
But I just wouldn't let myself believe that he'd been shot
Me and my bother run out there and everybody was all confused
And hollering' and running' round
And I stepped up to this one lady and I said that
"Ma'am what was it really that happened Ma'am?", and she said that
"Mr. Garfield's been shot down, shot down, shot down
Mr. Garfield's been shot down low"
Well, it looked like everybody felt just about as bad as I did
Everybody started drift off to home
Me and my brother did too
Then a few weeks later, I heard that the President was still alive
So I told my brother, I said, "Hey let's get on a train
And go to that Big House up there and see how the President is"
"Let's go up there to where he's laid up hurt and sick we'd see him"
So we went on up there and that big White House
And there was a soldier boy standin' round upside, outside
And, I sidled up to him and I said to that soldier boy
I said "Who was it that did it?
Who was it that shot the President?"
And he said that, "It was Charlie Guiteau that shot Mr. Garfield"
And I said, "Charlie Guiteau done shot down a good man, good man
Charlie Guiteau done shot down a good man low
Charlie Guiteau done shot down a good man, good man"
That soldier boy said that
Miss Lucretia Garfield was always at his bedside
In the heat of the day fannin' him when he was hot
And he said just that mornin' that he had been at the window
And he'd overheard Miss Lucretia and Mr. Garfield talkin'
And Mr Garfield said, "Crete, honey", he called her Crete
He said, "Crete, honey, if somethin' worse would happens to me"
He said, "You get yourself a good man"
And she said, "Now James", she called him James
She said, "James, I won't hear to that now
'Cause I love you too much"
And he said that "You'll make some good man a good wife, good wife
You'll make some man a good wife gal
Don't pull in single harness all your life, good gal
Don't pull in single harness all your life"
That's what he said, "Don't pull in single harness all your life"
Well a little while later, we come back around there
And things have changed
The flag was hangin' halfway up the flagpole
And everybody was cryin' and standin' 'round sad
And I walked back up to this soldier boy and I said
"Soldier boy, is he, is Mr Garfield?" and he said, "Yeah, he's gone"
Gonna lay him by that cold lonesome branch down low
Mr. Garfield's been shot down low
Oh, Mr. Garfield's been shot down, shot down, shot down
Mr. Garfield's been shot down low
Have you heard the news?
Mr. Garfield's been shot down, shot down, shot down
Mr. Garfield's been shot down low, Lord
The song "Mister Garfield" by Johnny Cash is a recounting of the assassination of President James A. Garfield in 1881, as seen through the eyes of a young boy and his brother. The lyrics describe the moment when they hear the sound of a gunshot near the depot and later learn that it was the President who was shot. The singer expresses disbelief and shock at the news, and later decides to visit Garfield at the White House to see how he is doing. The song also includes a touching anecdote about Garfield's wife, Lucretia, who refuses to leave his bedside during his illness, and her conversation with him about finding a good man if anything were to happen to him.
This song is notable for its historical significance as it is a retelling of a major news event that happened over a century ago. It is also interesting to note how Johnny Cash chose to tell the story from the perspective of a young boy, which underscores the emotional impact that the assassination had on ordinary Americans. Additionally, the song touches on themes of grief, loss, and perseverance, as seen through the perspective of the singer and the soldiers who stood vigil outside of the White House.
Line by Line Meaning
Me and my brother was down close to the depot
I was close to the station with my brother
When I heard the report of a pistol
I heard the sound of a gunshot
I hollered, "I wonder what was that!"
I shouted, wondering what had happened
He run out and come back and he said
He ran out and returned to tell me
"That was a report of a pistol"
"That sound was a gunshot"
And I thought I was gonna faint when he said it
I felt like I was going to pass out when he told me
"Mr. Garfield's been shot down, shot down, shot down
Mr. Garfield's been shot down low"
"President Garfield has been shot and killed"
Lord, I knew the President was supposed to be down the depot that day
But I just wouldn't let myself believe that he'd been shot
I knew the President was supposed to be there but couldn't believe he was actually shot
Me and my bother run out there and everybody was all confused
And hollering' and running' round
And I stepped up to this one lady and I said that
"Ma'am what was it really that happened Ma'am?", and she said that
We ran over and found everyone confused and panicked. I asked a lady what was going on, and she said
"Mr. Garfield's been shot down, shot down, shot down
Mr. Garfield's been shot down low"
"President Garfield has been shot and killed"
Well, it looked like everybody felt just about as bad as I did
Everybody started drift off to home
Me and my brother did too
Everyone was upset and started to leave. My brother and I left too
Then a few weeks later, I heard that the President was still alive
So I told my brother, I said, "Hey let's get on a train
And go to that Big House up there and see how the President is"
"Let's go up there to where he's laid up hurt and sick we'd see him"
I heard later on that the President was still alive, so I suggested to my brother that we visit him at the White House since he is still recovering from being shot.
And there was a soldier boy standin' round upside, outside
And, I sidled up to him and I said to that soldier boy
I said "Who was it that did it?
Who was it that shot the President?"
There was a soldier standing outside, and I asked him who had shot the President.
And he said that, "It was Charlie Guiteau that shot Mr. Garfield"
"Charlie Guiteau shot President Garfield."
And I said, "Charlie Guiteau done shot down a good man, good man
Charlie Guiteau done shot down a good man low
Charlie Guiteau done shot down a good man, good man"
"Charlie Guiteau has killed a good man."
Miss Lucretia Garfield was always at his bedside
In the heat of the day fannin' him when he was hot
And he said just that mornin' that he had been at the window
And he'd overheard Miss Lucretia and Mr. Garfield talkin'
Mrs. Garfield had been caring for him all the time, even fanning him in the heat. That morning he had overheard them talking by the window.
And Mr Garfield said, "Crete, honey", he called her Crete
He said, "Crete, honey, if somethin' worse would happens to me"
He said, "You get yourself a good man"
And she said, "Now James", she called him James
She said, "James, I won't hear to that now
'Cause I love you too much"
And he said that "You'll make some good man a good wife, good wife
You'll make some man a good wife gal
Don't pull in single harness all your life, good gal
Don't pull in single harness all your life"
That's what he said, "Don't pull in single harness all your life"
Garfield told his wife, Lucretia, that if he didn't survive, she should find another man. She refused, saying she loved him too much. He encouraged her to find happiness with someone else
Well a little while later, we come back around there
And things have changed
The flag was hangin' halfway up the flagpole
And everybody was cryin' and standin' 'round sad
And I walked back up to this soldier boy and I said
"Soldier boy, is he, is Mr Garfield?" and he said, "Yeah, he's gone"
A while later, we returned and things were different, with the flag at half-mast and everyone crying. I asked the soldier if Garfield was still alive, and he said that he had passed away.
"Gonna lay him by that cold lonesome branch down low
Mr. Garfield's been shot down low
Oh, Mr. Garfield's been shot down, shot down, shot down
Mr. Garfield's been shot down low"
"President Garfield has died and will be buried in a lonely spot."
Have you heard the news?
Mr. Garfield's been shot down, shot down, shot down
Mr. Garfield's been shot down low, Lord
The news is that President Garfield has been shot and killed.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JACK ELLIOTT
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