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.
Over The Next Hill
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I think I?d be safe in sayin?
That over the next hill we?ll be home
It?s a straight and narrow highway
No detours and no byways
And over the next hill we?ll be home
I would say the end is nearin?
For I see familiar landmarks all along
By the dreams that I?ve been dreamin?
There will come a great redeemin?
And over the next hill we?ll be home
By the turn the tide is takin'
I would say there?s no mistakin?
That over the next hill we?ll be home
There?s a place that we are nearin?
That so many have been fearin?
And over the next hill we?ll be home
When we get there we?re all hopin?
That we?ll find the gate is open
And there?ll be a refuge from the comin? storm
For the way?s been long and weary
But at last the end is nearin?
And over the next hill we?ll be home
Johnny Cash's song Over The Next Hill is a metaphorical song. The lyrics express the singer's belief in the end of the world and heaven being on the other side of the next hill. The song opens with the singer observing the layout of the land and concludes that they are nearing home. The straight and narrow highway signifies the path to heaven with no detours or byways, depicting the importance of staying on the right path. The singer mentions the prophets and familiar landmarks along the way, which could signify religious history and passages in the Bible that relate to the end times.
The chorus mentions dreams of great redeeming and the next hill indicating that they are prepared for what lies ahead. The turn the tide is taking is a potent image that suggests changes in the ongoing spiritual realm, and the place we are nearing has been the fear of many individuals. In the final verse, there is hope that heaven's gates are open, providing refuge from the coming storm, signifying the end of the world. The journey has been tough, but finally, the end is near, and they will be home.
Line by Line Meaning
By the way the land is layin?
Given the lay of the land, I am confident in saying that over the next hill lies our home.
It?s a straight and narrow highway
The road we're on is straightforward and without deviation, leading directly to our destination.
No detours and no byways
There are no alternate routes or distractions on our path.
From the prophets I've been hearin?
Based on the messages from prophets I've received, it seems the end is nearing.
I would say the end is nearin?
Based on what I've heard, it appears that the end is approaching.
For I see familiar landmarks all along
The landmarks I recognize indicate to me that we are close to our destination.
By the dreams that I've been dreamin?
Based on my dreams, I believe that a great redemption is on the horizon.
There will come a great redeemin?
I foresee a moment of redemption and salvation in our near future.
And over the next hill we'll be home
Our home lies just beyond the upcoming hill.
By the turn the tide is takin'
Given the direction of the tide, I have no doubt that we are nearing our destination.
I would say there's no mistakin?
I am certain that we are on the right track and close to our home.
That over the next hill we'll be home
We are only a hill away from arriving at our home.
there's a place that we are nearin?
We are approaching a location that many have feared.
That so many have been fearin?
This place we are near has caused worry and apprehension in many individuals.
And over the next hill we'll be home
We are very close to reaching our destination, which is beyond the upcoming hill.
When we get there we're all hopin?
Once we arrive, we are hopeful that the gate to our new home will be open.
That we'll find the gate is open
We wish for the entrance to our new home to be accessible when we get there.
And there'll be a refuge from the comin' storm
We hope that our new home will provide shelter and protection from any impending danger.
For the way?s been long and weary
The journey we have taken thus far has been tiring and difficult.
But at last the end is nearin?
However, we are close to the end of our journey and can soon rest.
And over the next hill we'll be home
Our home is just beyond the upcoming hill, and we are almost there.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JOHNNY R. CASH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@matthewlepak2878
Beautiful song. Thank you! Jesus bless!
@mikedaniels3009
The sheer genius of Johnny in this song is mind-boggling, touching, heartwarming....
@carolperkins4666
I love this song, Connie Smith does such a great job with it too!!
@rhondamcclements356
Great gospel song
@trr8794
Very talented man johny cash ...its like I was in the car riding a long with him ..what a picture his songs could paint .. rip johny cash .where the hills are silver and the streets are gold ..
@gilbertchebet7411
It is encouraging me so much,,,over the next Hill will be home
@kimberlee4957
I heard this on the radio at my Mama's the other day, and I loved it.
I said, "mama, should I pass on, play this at my funeral"
(We're not promised another day) minute,second, hour . . For that matter ❤️✝️❤️
@marksmusings670
My favorite of his gospel songs!
@TimothDaniel
Great song Johnny, Thanks for writing it.
@irishboi2411
I found this song through his book called "the man in black" which he wrote in 1975 it's one of the last few that he signed personally my parents know that even though I was born way after he had died that I had been a fan for quite some time