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.
Redemption Day
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But how I weep for those who've gone
Into rooms of grief and questioned wrong
But keep on killing
It's in the soul to feel such things
But weak to watch without speaking
Oh, what mercy sadness brings
If God be willing
There is a train that's heading straight
To Heaven's gate, to Heaven's gate
And on the way, child and man
And woman wait, watch and wait
For redemption day
Fire rages in the streets
And swallows everything it meets
It's just an image often seen
On television
Come leaders, come ye men of great
Let us hear you pontificate
Your many virtues laid to waste
And we aren't listening
There is a train that's heading straight
To Heaven's gate, to Heaven's gate
And on the way, child and man
And woman wait, watch and wait
For redemption day
What do you have for us today
Throw us a bone but save the plate
On why you waited 'til so late
Was there no oil to excavate?
No riches in trade for the fate
Of every person who died in hate
Throw us a bone, you men of great
There is a train that's heading straight
To Heaven's gate, to Heaven's gate
And on the way, child and man
And woman wait, watch and wait
For redemption day
It's buried in the countryside
It's hidden in the shells of night
It's everywhere a baby cries
Freedom
Freedom
Freedom
Freedom
Freedom
In the first verse of Johnny Cash's "Redemption Day," the singer reflects on the sorrow he feels for individuals who are suffering, but then goes on to express even greater sadness for those who have become desensitized to the pain of others and continue to inflict harm. Cash recognizes that humans have the capacity to feel deeply and empathize with the suffering of others, but often fail to act and instead allow violence to persist. He then questions whether God will provide mercy in light of such brutality.
The second verse describes a world consumed by conflict, where violence and destruction are commonplace. Cash implores leaders to speak up and take action, rather than simply offering empty platitudes about their own virtues. The repetition of the train imagery throughout the song adds to the sense of urgency and inevitability, as if these conflicts will continue until the end of time, when the train of "redemption day" finally arrives.
The final lines of the song offer a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness, suggesting that freedom and redemption can be found even in the most unexpected places. Despite the weighty subject matter, Cash's delivery is gentle and melancholic, highlighting the sadness and futility of war and violence.
Line by Line Meaning
I've wept for those who suffer long
I have cried for those who endure hardship and affliction for a long time.
But how I weep for those who've gone
But my tears are more profound for those who have died.
Into rooms of grief and questioned wrong
They’ve ventured into their sorrowful chambers and questioned injustice.
But keep on killing
But they persist in causing deaths.
It's in the soul to feel such things
Violence and sadness are instinctively felt in people's souls.
But weak to watch without speaking
But it is cowardly to witness these events without speaking against them.
Oh, what mercy sadness brings
The pain and sadness with which we are afflicted make us more merciful towards others.
If God be willing
Assuming that it is the divine will.
There is a train that's heading straight
A train is traveling straight towards a destination.
To Heaven's gate, to Heaven's gate
To the entrance of Heaven.
And on the way, child and man
During the journey, children and adults,
And woman wait, watch and wait
As well as women, await and watch for their chance.
For redemption day
To reach the day of redemption, when they will finally be free of their pain, suffering, and judgment.
Fire rages in the streets
Fire is spreading uncontrollably through the streets.
And swallows everything it meets
It consumes everything in its path.
It's just an image often seen
It's just an image that we see on television or in our mind.
On television
In broadcasts or other media.
Come leaders, come ye men of great
Leaders, powerful and respectable men, come forward.
Let us hear you pontificate
Let us listen to you speak at length on a particular subject, often in a pompous or self-important manner.
Your many virtues laid to waste
Your many good qualities and abilities are being wasted and squandered.
And we aren't listening
Yet we do not heed or pay attention.
What do you have for us today
What do you want to tell us or offer us today?
Throw us a bone but save the plate
Give us something, but keep the best parts for yourself.
On why you waited 'til so late
Why did you wait until now or until it is too late?
Was there no oil to excavate?
Was there no oil or valuable resources to be exploited?
No riches in trade for the fate
Were there no resources that could have impacted the destiny of the people?
Of every person who died in hate
Of each individual that had met an untimely end due to hate.
Throw us a bone, you men of great
Offer us something significant, oh you, powerful and respectable men.
It's buried in the countryside
Freedom is hidden in the countryside, the farmland, and other rural regions.
It's hidden in the shells of night
It's concealed in the depths of night's shadows and darkness.
It's everywhere a baby cries
It's everywhere one hears the sound of a crying infant.
Freedom
The power or right to speak, think, and act as one wants without restraint.
Freedom
The quality of being independent of society.
Freedom
The absence of the necessity to obey, follow dictates and rules.
Freedom
The ability to make one's own choices and govern oneself.
Freedom
The state of being liberated from oppression, captivity, and slavery.
Lyrics © Reservoir Media Management, Inc., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Sheryl Suzanne Crow
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