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.
My old Kentucky home
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've turned the corner an' I'm doin' fine
Shootin' at the birds on the telephone line
Pickin' 'em off with this gun o' mine
Got a fire in my belly and a fire in my head
Going higher and higher till I'm dead
Sister Sue is short and stout, she didn't grow up, she grew out
Papa thinks she's pretty but he's almost blind
Don't let her out much except at night
But I don't care 'cause I'm all right
Oh, the sun shines bright on my old Kentucky home
Young folks roll on the floor
Oh, the sun shines bright on my old Kentucky home
Keep them hard times away from my door
Brother Gene is big and mean and he don't have much to say
He had a little woman who he whooped each day
But now she's gone away got drunk last night
Kicked momma down the stairs but I'm all right
So I don't care
Oh, the sun shines bright on my old Kentucky home
And the young folks are rollin' on the floor
Oh, the sun shines bright on my old Kentucky home
Keep them hard times away from my door
Turpentine and dandelion wine
I've turned the corner an' I'm doin' fine
Shootin' at the birds on the telephone line
Pickin' 'em off with this gun o' mine
Got a fire in my belly and a fire in my head
Goin' higher and higher till I'm dead
Oh, the sun shines bright on my old Kentucky home
And the young folks are rollin' on the floor
Oh, the sun shines bright on my old Kentucky home
Keep them hard times away from my door
Keep them hard times away from my door
The lyrics to Johnny Cash's My Old Kentucky Home are a seemingly innocent sounding song, but upon deeper inspection, there are dark undertones hidden within the lyrics. The singer of the song is a person who has faced difficult circumstances in their life but has come out of them strong and resilient. They have turned a corner and are "doing fine," but their method of coping involves shooting birds with a gun and drinking turpentine and dandelion wine. The lyrics are a clear depiction of a person who has experienced hardship and has found ways to cope that may not be the healthiest.
The song also paints a picture of a dysfunctional family. The singer describes their sister Sue as short and stout, implying that she is overweight, and their mother says she is plain. However, their father believes she is pretty, but he is almost blind. The family keeps Sue at home most of the time, only allowing her out at night. The singer's brother Gene is described as big and mean, having a history of physical abuse towards his former partner. The family dynamics presented in the song are far from healthy, indicating an environment that may have contributed to the singer's reliance on substances and erratic behavior.
Overall, the song is a powerful commentary on the effects of hardship and dysfunctional family dynamics. The lyrics paint a poignant picture of a person who has overcome their struggles but continues to suffer from the effects of those struggles.
Line by Line Meaning
Turpentine and dandelion wine
I've had some hard times, but now I'm doing better.
I've turned the corner an' I'm doin' fine
I've overcome my struggles and I'm doing well now.
Shootin' at the birds on the telephone line
I'm enjoying simple pleasures in life.
Pickin' 'em off with this gun o' mine
I'm taking control of my life and feeling powerful.
Got a fire in my belly and a fire in my head
I'm full of passion and determination.
Going higher and higher till I'm dead
I'll keep striving to achieve my goals until the end of my life.
Sister Sue is short and stout, she didn't grow up, she grew out
My sister is overweight and hasn't had an easy life.
Momma says, she's plain but she's just being kind
My mother is trying to be nice when describing my sister's appearance.
Papa thinks she's pretty but he's almost blind
My father loves my sister no matter what she looks like.
Don't let her out much except at night
My sister doesn't go out much because of her weight and self-consciousness.
But I don't care 'cause I'm all right
I'm happy with myself and don't let others' opinions affect me.
Oh, the sun shines bright on my old Kentucky home
I love my home and feel grateful for what I have.
Young folks roll on the floor
We have fun and enjoy ourselves in our home.
Keep them hard times away from my door
I want to keep the good times going and not have to deal with any more struggles.
Brother Gene is big and mean and he don't have much to say
My brother is tough and doesn't talk much.
He had a little woman who he whooped each day
My brother used to abuse his wife.
But now she's gone away got drunk last night
His wife left him because he was abusive and he's struggling with it.
Kicked momma down the stairs but I'm all right
My brother was violent towards our mother, but I'm not affected by it.
And the young folks are rollin' on the floor
We continue to have fun in our home despite the struggles.
Keep them hard times away from my door
I don't want any more problems in my life.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HEINZ ROEMHELD, STEPHEN COLLINS FOSTER
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