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.
Old Apache Squaw
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How many bitter winter nights shiverin' in a cold teepee?
Shiverin' in a cold teepee
Old Apache Squaw, how many hungry kids you saw?
How many bloody warriors runnin' to the sea, fleein' to the sea?
Well, now they tell me that you saw Cochise
When he made his last stand
Is gonna be a dead white man"
Old Apache Squaw, how many broken hearts you saw?
Have you had misty eyes for years?
Could that mist be tears? Could that mist be tears?
Well, now they tell me that you saw Cochise
When he made his last stand
He said, "The next white man that sees my face
Is gonna be a dead white man"
Old Apache Squaw, how many broken hearts you saw?
You've had misty eyes for years
Could that mist be tears? Could that mist be tears?
Old Apache Squaw
The song "Old Apache Squaw" by Johnny Cash is a poignant tribute to the hardships faced by Native American women, particularly the titular character who is depicted as an old woman reflecting on her long and difficult life. The song opens with a series of questions directed towards her - the first verse asks her how many years she has lived through and how many cold winter nights she has endured in her teepee. The second verse turns to the subject of her children and the many warriors who have perished in battle or fled to the sea. The final verse refers to an encounter she allegedly had with the legendary Apache leader Cochise, who vowed to kill any white man who dared to look upon him.
Line by Line Meaning
Old Apache Squaw, how many long lean years you saw?
Addressing an Apache elder, Johnny Cash asks how many years of hardship, sacrifice and tribulation she has endured
How many bitter winter nights shiverin' in a cold teepee?
Inquiring how many cold, uncomfortable nights the elder experienced while living in a teepee during the winter season
Shiverin' in a cold teepee
Repeating and emphasizing the harsh living conditions the elder faced during winter nights which led to shivering in a teepee
Old Apache Squaw, how many hungry kids you saw?
Continuing to inquire and acknowledging the elder's firsthand experience of seeing many hungry children go unfed and suffer from hunger
How many bloody warriors runnin' to the sea, fleein' to the sea?
Recalling the elder's memory of how many Native American warriors were bravely fighting but then forced to flee to the sea to avoid further violence
Well, now they tell me that you saw Cochise
Referring to the famous Native American leader Cochise and hearing that the elder saw him at some point in her life
When he made his last stand
Elaborating on the context in which the elder may have seen Cochise, that being his last fight or stand before his death
He said, "The next white man that sees my face
Recounting Cochise's words to those present at his last stand, where he threatens the next white man who sees him
Is gonna be a dead white man"
Continuing to convey Cochise's threat that the next white person who sees him alive will not leave alive.
Old Apache Squaw, how many broken hearts you saw?
Touching upon one of the deepest human experiences of pain and sorrow, grief over a broken heart, and questioning if the elder has witnessed such emotional turmoil often
Have you had misty eyes for years?
Asking if the elder has been experiencing prolonged emotions to the point of developing moist eyes for years
Could that mist be tears? Could that mist be tears?
Repeating the question of whether the elder's moist eyes could indicate that she has been crying, subtly empathizing with her struggles and pain
Old Apache Squaw
Addressing the Apache elder in a respectful tone, acknowledging her experience and history
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Unidentified Unidentified
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
PearlJammer07
I wish the companies that made these vinyl records would release them on CD. I would like to have them portable. Lots of these old albums are very hard to come by. The original sun vinyl records are very sought after.
Bruno Bonomo
This song’s rithm is amazing! Most of all, the beginning. Wow!
Chris Spalding
One of his best songs on one of his best albums
Miss Kitty 1944
Love johnny cash great singer and song writer 2019 best thanks for all music god blesd
shane burnett
I still have this album, it was my Father's.
Kevin Branum
I bought this record at an estate sale the other day for 1 $ :)
dragon beast
Wow....
PearlJammer07
All his original albums have not yet been transferred to CD yet.
djmusicjac
awesome, i have not heard this before, thanks for uploading this
david giles
this was my mothers favourite song.