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.
Rock And Roll Shoes
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I heard the people say
Son you were born to stray
Someday you'll settle down
I guess there'll come a time
Maybe I'll tow the line
Right now I'm doing fine
Rolling from town to town
I don't care where I ride
I'll let my feet decide
Do anything but don't ask that I
Hang up my rock and roll shoes
Hang up my rock and roll shoes
Guitars and ringing tones
In my blood and in my bones
Show me a bus
And I'll call it home
'Cause I don't wanna change
I don't care where I ride
I'll let my feet decide
Do anything but don't ask that I
Hang up my rock and roll shoes
Hang up my rock and roll shoes
On a lonely day
When they put me in my grave
Ain't a worry you need to save
Just hang up my rock and roll shoes
So let that motor run
Headed out towards the sunI'm in the mood for moving on
But I'll be back someday
I don't care where I ride
I'll let my feet decide
Do anything but don't ask that I
Hang up my rock and roll shoes
In Johnny Cash's song "Rock and Roll Shoes," the lyrics speak to the love and passion that someone has for music, specifically rock and roll. Despite the criticism and doubt from others about a person's choice to pursue a life of music, the singer remains steadfast in their determination to continue traveling and performing their music. Despite the promise of possibly settling down and towing the line, the singer resists, singing that he is "doing fine rolling from town to town."
The lyrics also express the innate connection the singer feels to music- guitars and ringing tones are "in [his] blood and in [his] bones." He professes that he would live on a bus if it meant he could continue to spread the love of rock and roll. The chorus notes that he doesn't want to abandon his identity as a rock and roller, with the repeated line "Do anything but don't ask that I hang up my rock and roll shoes."
The final verse speaks to the singer's understanding of his own mortality- when he passes away, he doesn't want anyone to grieve for him, just to "hang up [his] rock and roll shoes." The song ends on a note of forward motion, with the singer stating that he's headed towards the sun and that he'll be back someday. Overall, the song reads as an ode to the love of rock and roll as a way of life, with the singer refusing to give it up no matter what life throws his way.
Line by Line Meaning
It seems like yesterday
Looking back on the past, it feels like it wasn't that long ago.
I heard the people say
People used to tell me.
Son you were born to stray
People said that I was destined to wander and not settle down.
Someday you'll settle down
They thought that one day I would finally want to settle down.
I guess there'll come a time
I suppose there may be a time when I am ready to settle down.
Maybe I'll tow the line
Perhaps I will conform to society's expectations and live a more traditional life.
Right now I'm doing fine
At the moment, I am content with my current lifestyle.
Rolling from town to town
I am wandering from place to place without a permanent home.
I don't care where I ride
I am not worried about the destination of my travels.
I'll let my feet decide
I am letting my natural instincts guide me.
Do anything but don't ask that I
I am willing to do anything except one thing, which is
Hang up my rock and roll shoes
I will not give up being a musician.
Guitars and ringing tones
Music is an essential part of my identity.
In my blood and in my bones
Music is ingrained in my being.
Show me a bus
If I see a touring bus,
And I'll call it home
I will feel at home while touring and performing music.
'Cause I don't wanna change
I am content with who I am and do not want to conform to society's standards.
On a lonely day
In the future, when I am alone.
When they put me in my grave
When I am dead and buried.
Ain't a worry you need to save
You don't need to worry about me.
Just hang up my rock and roll shoes
All I want is for my legacy as a musician to continue.
So let that motor run
I am ready to move on to my next destination.
Headed out towards the sun
I am traveling towards the future with a positive outlook.
I'm in the mood for moving on
I am feeling restless and ready to keep moving.
But I'll be back someday
Even though I am leaving now, I know that I will return in the future.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GRAHAM LYLE, PAUL KENNERLEY
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