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.
Restless
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I'm gonna go like a July snow
Back to where I came from
Gonna leave this humdrum it's too slow and tame
None of your business where I've been
Don't ask me what I've done
Run your ranch and punch your cows
Colorado's right hand will put you on the run
I've got a gal in Denver town
That's crying over me
But I said goodbye and I let her cry
I miss her company but
I'll get out of this rut, Rio Bravo's killing me
They gotta man locked in a cell
That's a freer man than I
He's gonna laugh right in their face
When they lead him out to die and
He's gonna leave these badlands
And ride off in the sky
You're gonna see old Colorado
Headed for the door
You better believe I'm gonna leave
Like the 904 train
Gonna breathe some air again
That ain't been breathed before
In Johnny Cash's song "Restless", the lyrics speak to a restless spirit who is ready to leave behind the mundanity of his current life in search of something more. The opening lines "I came in like a restless wind on a wagon train / But I'm gonna go like a July snow / Back to where I came from" set the stage that this person has arrived in a new place, but they do not intend to stay. They are likened to a "restless wind" that can't be contained, and their leaving will be as sudden and unexpected as a snowstorm in the middle of summer.
The lyrics continue to speak to the need for freedom from the constraints of society. The lines "None of your business where I've been / Don't ask me what I've done / Run your ranch and punch your cows / And stay behind my gun man" illustrate that this person does not answer to anyone else and is responsible only for themselves. They must stay behind their gun and keep moving, for that is the only way they know how to live.
The chorus of the song speaks to the freedom found in leaving behind what is known and embracing the unknown. The lines "You're gonna see old Colorado / Headed for the door / You better believe I'm gonna leave / Like the 904 train / Gonna breathe some air again / That ain't been breathed before" show that this restless spirit is intent on leaving, and they are not looking back. They are headed towards their destiny, whatever that may be.
Line by Line Meaning
I came in like a restless wind on a wagon train
I arrived without warning and disrupted the norm.
But I'm gonna go like a July snow
I'm going to leave just as quickly as I came.
Back to where I came from
I'm returning to my place of origin.
Gonna leave this humdrum it's too slow and tame
I'm leaving this monotonous lifestyle because it's too boring.
None of your business where I've been
My past is not your concern.
Don't ask me what I've done
I won't disclose my past actions to you.
Run your ranch and punch your cows
Focus on your own responsibilities.
And stay behind my gun man
Don't approach or interfere with me.
Colorado's right hand will put you on the run
My reputation and connections in Colorado are powerful.
I've got a gal in Denver town
I have a woman I care for in Denver.
That's crying over me
She's upset about my departure.
But I said goodbye and I let her cry
I chose to leave despite her emotional state.
I miss her company but
I feel lonely without her, but I still must leave.
I'll get out of this rut, Rio Bravo's killing me
I'm stuck in a stagnant routine and must leave to survive.
They gotta man locked in a cell
There is someone imprisoned.
That's a freer man than I
Despite their confinement, their life is more fulfilling than mine.
He's gonna laugh right in their face
He will face his punishment with dignity and pride.
When they lead him out to die and
He will face death head-on.
He's gonna leave these badlands
He will finally escape the hardships of life.
And ride off in the sky
He will find a peaceful existence somewhere after death.
You're gonna see old Colorado
You'll notice my absence in Colorado.
Headed for the door
I'm leaving without hesitation.
You better believe I'm gonna leave
My departure is imminent.
Like the 904 train
I will disappear without a trace, just like a train.
Gonna breathe some air again
I will finally have the freedom to breathe fresh air.
That ain't been breathed before
I'm striving for a new and adventurous existence.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@barrygioportmorien1
This is the first time I have heard this by Johnny, thanks. I love it by Ricky Nelson, should have been in the movie "Rio Bravo"
@cynthiaennis3107
Agreed! Love this song! Also the duet by Dean Martin & Ricky Nelson: My Rifle, My Pony & Me, from Rio Bravo!
So smooth! Love these songs! ♥️
@BarbaraPJC
Thank you! I've found this song on Bootleg, vol 2, it has several outtakes
@alexandruvictor9316
Bravo Barbara...good job...
@bobsch5914
Great Talent
@karaboo3175
Johnny Cash wrote this for Ricky Nelson! I didn't know he sang it!!! Love it!
@cynthiaennis3107
Maybe he sang it after Rick passed??
@ColonelFain
Rio Bravo. Ricky Nelson. Thanks.
@mizepedreira804
Fabuloso
@samglick2735
well done /barbaraPJC. were do you find all johnny cash, vintage well done KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK nice to hear thank,s alot.