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.
Rodeo Hand
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Rollin' where the urge tells him to go
And all this cowboy really needs is a tank of gas and entry fees
To get him to the next big rodeo
Now most athletes take alfalfa pills and super B's
A cowboy don't need all that motern stuff
A cowboy's gotta be lean and mean he trains on caffine and nicotine
And them all night drives help to make him tough
He's underfed and under paid and too damn hungry to be afraid
Some where between the crazy and insane
Cowboys ain't afraid pf dyin' shoot he'd even ride a red eyed Lion
If you'd show him where to take the rein
Now the only coach a cowboy needs is a growlin' gut that says come on let's eat
So tonight cowboy you better make a winning ride
Bout the only thing that makes him go
Is that big gold buckle waitin' down the road
And a bad case of too much cowboy pride
In Johnny Cash’s song “Rodeo Hand,” the singer describes the life of a cowboy who is a “dyin' breed,” drifting like a tumbleweed, rolling where his urges lead him to go. The cowboy’s main focus is to participate in rodeos, and all he requires is a tank of gas and entry fees to participate in the next event. While other athletes take sophisticated supplements and pills, a cowboy’s training is caffeine and nicotine, and he must be lean and mean to compete. The cowboy is underpaid, starving, and not afraid to die, as he is crazy and insane. His coach is his growling gut, and his motivation is the big gold buckle that awaits him and his cowboy pride.
The lyrics of “Rodeo Hand” depict the rugged, isolated lifestyle of a cowboy who has devoted his life to the rodeo. In the first verse, the cowboy is portrayed as a rootless drifter who follows his impulses and desires. However, his ride is fueled by little more than unadorned caffeine and nicotine, unlike other sportsmen who take pills and supplements. Through his experience, Cash portrays the cowboy’s character as hardened and fearless, as he is not afraid to die and shows no fear of perilous challenges on the rodeo circuit.
In conclusion, the song is a celebration of the complex and challenging life of the cowboy, and the lyrics describe the cowboy's restless determination, gritty resilience, and absolute dedication to their craft. The rodeo hand is the ultimate image of stubborn, hard-wearing toughness, which is what makes him a true icon of the American West.
Line by Line Meaning
He's a rodeo hand a dyin' breed driftin' like a tumble weed
He is a rodeo hand, which is a rare profession nowadays, wandering aimlessly like a tumbleweed.
Rollin' where the urge tells him to go
He goes wherever his instincts take him.
And all this cowboy really needs is a tank of gas and entry fees
All he requires is some gas for his vehicle and money for the entry fee to participate in the next rodeo competition.
To get him to the next big rodeo
He is always ready to go to the next big rodeo.
Now most athletes take alfalfa pills and super B's
Alfalfa pills and super B's are taken by most athletes to enhance their performance.
A cowboy don't need all that motern stuff
A cowboy does not require any of these modern supplements.
A cowboy's gotta be lean and mean he trains on caffine and nicotine
A cowboy needs to be lean and fit, and he trains on caffeine and nicotine instead of relying on any supplements.
And them all night drives help to make him tough
Driving all night long toughens him up.
He's underfed and under paid and too damn hungry to be afraid
He is undernourished and poorly compensated, but he is so hungry that he is not afraid of risking his life in the rodeo.
Some where between the crazy and insane
He is in a state of mind that is somewhere between craziness and insanity.
Cowboys ain't afraid pf dyin' shoot he'd even ride a red eyed Lion
Cowboys are fearless and are not afraid of dying; in fact, he would even ride a red-eyed lion if given the chance.
If you'd show him where to take the rein
As long as he knows where to hold the reins, he is willing to ride any animal.
Now the only coach a cowboy needs is a growlin' gut that says come on let's eat
The only motivation he needs is his growling stomach telling him to eat, and that is his coach.
So tonight cowboy you better make a winning ride
He must have a winning performance tonight.
Bout the only thing that makes him go
The only thing that motivates him is his passion for the rodeo and winning that big gold buckle.
Is that big gold buckle waitin' down the road
He is driven by the prospect of winning the big gold buckle that lies ahead.
And a bad case of too much cowboy pride
His pride and passion for the rodeo are so great that they often lead him to overdo it.
Contributed by Parker V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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