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 Island Line
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well, the Rock Island Line she runs down into New Orleans
There's a big tollgate down there and you know
If you got certain things on board when you go through the tollgate
Well, you don't have to pay the man no toll
Well, a train driver he pulled up to the tollgate
And a man hollered and asked him what all he had on board and said
I got livestock
I got cows
I got pigs
I got sheep
I got mules
I got all livestock
Well, he said you're alright boy you don't have to pay no toll
You can just go right on through so he went on through the tollgate
And as he went through he started pickin' up a little bit of speed
Pickin' up a little bit of steam
He got on through he turned and looked back at the man he said
Well, I fooled you
I fooled you
I got pig iron
I got pig iron
I got old pig iron
Down the Rock Island Line she's a mighty good road
Rock Island Line it's the road to ride
Rock Island Line it's a mighty good road
Well, if you ride it you got to ride it like you find it
Get your ticket at the station for the Rock Island Line
Looked cloudy in the west and it looked like rain
Round the curve came a passenger train
North bound train on a southbound track
He's alright a leavin' but he won't be back
Well, the Rock Island Line she's a mighty good road
Rock Island Line it's the road to ride
Rock Island Line it's a mighty good road
Well, if you ride it you got to ride it like you find it
Get your ticket at the station for the Rock Island Line
Oh, I may be right and I may be wrong
But you're gonna miss me when I'm gone
Well, the engineer said before he died
There were two more drinks that he'd like to try
The conductor said what could they be
A hot cup of coffee and a cold glass of tea
Well, the Rock Island Line she's a mighty good road
Rock Island Line it's the road to ride
Rock Island Line it's a mighty good road
Well, if you ride it you got to ride it like you find it
Get your ticket at the station for the Rock Island Line
The Rock Island Line, a popular traditional American folk song, is a story about the journey of the Rock Island Line train from Chicago to New Orleans. The song describes a train driver who manages to avoid paying the toll man by lying about the contents of his cargo. He initially tells the toll man that he has cows, pigs, sheep, and mules, which are all exempt from paying tolls. However, as the driver goes through the tollgate, he reveals that he is carrying pig iron, which is subject to a toll. The song celebrates the ingenuity of the driver and his ability to outsmart the toll man.
The song also contains verses that describe the beauty and power of the Rock Island Line train. The lyrics mention that the train is a "mighty good road to ride" and that it is the "road to freedom" for many people. The song suggests that riding the Rock Island Line is an adventure, and that anyone who takes the journey should be ready to embrace it as it comes.
Overall, The Rock Island Line is a song about freedom, adventure, and the power of the human spirit to overcome obstacles. The song celebrates the lives of ordinary people who brave the challenges of the railroad to find their way to a better life.
Line by Line Meaning
Now, this here's a story about the Rock Island Line
Introduction to the story being told
Well, the Rock Island Line she runs down into New Orleans
Rock Island Line is a railroad running to New Orleans
There's a big tollgate down there and you know
There is a large toll gate on the way to New Orleans
If you got certain things on board when you go through the tollgate
You can avoid paying the toll if you have certain cargo
Well, you don't have to pay the man no toll
You don't need to pay toll if you have the cargo
Well, a train driver he pulled up to the tollgate
The train driver arrives at the tollgate
And a man hollered and asked him what all he had on board and said
Someone asks the train driver what cargo he has
I got livestock
The driver claims to have livestock on board
I got cows
The driver claims to have cows on board
I got pigs
The driver claims to have pigs on board
I got sheep
The driver claims to have sheep on board
I got mules
The driver claims to have mules on board
I got all livestock
The driver emphasizes that he has a variety of livestock on board
Well, he said you're alright boy you don't have to pay no toll
The man at the tollgate allows the train to pass without paying the toll
You can just go right on through so he went on through the tollgate
The train passes through the tollgate without issue
And as he went through he started pickin' up a little bit of speed
The train starts to gain speed as it continues its journey
Pickin' up a little bit of steam
The train begins to move faster and more steadily
He got on through he turned and looked back at the man he said
Once through the tollgate, the driver taunts the man who let him through
Well, I fooled you
The driver tricked the tollgate attendant
I got pig iron
The driver reveals that he actually had pig iron, not livestock
I got old pig iron
The driver emphasizes that the pig iron is old
Down the Rock Island Line she's a mighty good road
The Rock Island Line is praised as a great railroad
Rock Island Line it's the road to ride
The Rock Island Line is recommended as a great journey to take
Well, if you ride it you got to ride it like you find it
To truly experience the journey, one must take it as it comes
Get your ticket at the station for the Rock Island Line
To ride the Rock Island Line, one must purchase a ticket at the station
Looked cloudy in the west and it looked like rain
The weather appeared to be changing for the worse
Round the curve came a passenger train
Another train arrives
North bound train on a southbound track
The train is on the wrong track, heading in the opposite direction
He's alright a leavin' but he won't be back
The train may leave, but it won't be coming back on that track
Oh, I may be right and I may be wrong
The singer acknowledges that his opinion may not be universally accepted
But you're gonna miss me when I'm gone
Despite being uncertain, the singer knows that he will be missed once he's gone
Well, the engineer said before he died
The dying engineer made a statement
There were two more drinks that he'd like to try
The engineer expresses regret about things he never got to do
The conductor said what could they be
The conductor asks the engineer what he wanted to try
A hot cup of coffee and a cold glass of tea
The engineer wanted to try a hot cup of coffee and a cold glass of tea before he died
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Johnny Cash
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