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.
Singing in VietNam Talkin' Blues
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
"We've been everywhere once and some places twice"
As I had another helpin' of country ham
She said, "We ain't never been to Vietnam
There's a bunch of our boys over there"
So, we went to the Orient, Saigon
Well, we got a big welcome when we drove in
We checked in and everything got kinda quite
But a soldier boy said, "Just wait 'til tonight
Things get noisy, things start happening'
Big bad firecrackers"
Well, that night we did about four shows for the boys
And they were livin' it up with a whole lot of noise
We did our last song for the night
Then we crawled into bed for some peace and quite
But things weren't peaceful and things weren't quite
Things were scary
Well, for a few minutes June never said one word
And I thought at first that she hadn't heard
Then a shell exploded not two miles away
She sat up in bed and I heard her say, "What was that?"
I said "That was a shell or a bomb"
She said, "I'm scared", I said, "Me too"
Well, all night long that noise kept on
And the sound would chill you right to the bone
The bullets and the bombs and the motor shells
Shook our bed every time one fell and it never let up
It was gonna get worse before it got any better
Well when the sun came up the noise died down
We got a few minutes sleep and we were sleepin' sound
Then a soldier knocked on our door and said
"Last night we brought in seven dead and fourteen wounded"
And would we come down to the base hospital
And see the boys, yeah
So we went to the hospital ward by day
And every night we were singin' away
Then the shells and the bombs 'til dawn again
And the helicopters brought in a wounded man
Night after night, day after day, comin' and a goin'
So we sadly sang for them our last song
And reluctantly we said so long
We did our best to let them know that we cared
For every last one of them it's over there
Whether we belonged over there or not
Somebody over here loves them and needs them
Well, now that's about all there is to tell
About that little trip into livin' hell
And if I ever go back over there anymore
Hope there's none of our boys there for me to sing for
I hope that war's over with and they all come back home
To stay in peace
The lyrics of Johnny Cash's "Singing In Vietnam Talking Blues" tell the story of when the singer and his wife went to Vietnam to perform for American soldiers during the war. The song describes the experience of visiting the soldiers and performing for them, but also explores the fear and danger of being in a war zone. Cash sings about the constant noise from bullets and bombs that kept them awake at night and how they went to visit wounded soldiers in the hospital during the day. The lyrics reveal the singer's perspective on war and how he hopes that there will be no more soldiers for him to sing for, suggesting that he wishes for the end of the conflict.
Line by Line Meaning
One mornin' at breakfast I said to my wife
I started my story by telling my wife about a curious thought that crossed my mind at breakfast
"We've been everywhere once and some places twice"
I bragged to my wife about our extensive travels
As I had another helpin' of country ham
I was enjoying a delicious meal while sharing my story
She said, "We ain't never been to Vietnam
My wife reminded me that we have never traveled to Vietnam
There's a bunch of our boys over there"
She informed me of the presence of American soldiers in Vietnam
So, we went to the Orient, Saigon
To support our troops, we traveled to Saigon in Vietnam
Well, we got a big welcome when we drove in
Upon arrival, we were greeted with a warm welcome
Through the gates of a place that they call Long Ben
We entered a military base known as Long Ben
We checked in and everything got kinda quite
After completing the check-in process, the atmosphere became calm
But a soldier boy said, "Just wait 'til tonight
However, a young soldier warned us that things would change at night
Things get noisy, things start happening'
The soldier hinted that the nights are filled with loud disturbances and occurrences
Big bad firecrackers"
He used the term 'firecrackers' to refer to the sounds of bombing and shell explosions
Well, that night we did about four shows for the boys
On that night, we performed four shows for the troops stationed there
And they were livin' it up with a whole lot of noise
The soldiers were enjoying the music, and the atmosphere was lively
We did our last song for the night
After several songs, we performed our last song for the night
Then we crawled into bed for some peace and quite
We retired to bed seeking peace and quiet after a long day
But things weren't peaceful and things weren't quite
Our hopes for peace and quiet were soon dashed
Things were scary
We were frightened by the noises and the chaos that continued throughout the night
Well, for a few minutes June never said one word
For some time, my wife did not utter a word as we lay in bed
And I thought at first that she hadn't heard
I assumed that she was not paying attention to the noises outside
Then a shell exploded not two miles away
Suddenly, an explosion occurred only a few miles away
She sat up in bed and I heard her say, "What was that?"
My wife woke up upon hearing the noise and asked me what was happening
I said "That was a shell or a bomb"
I informed her that the noise was possibly caused by a shell or bomb
She said, "I'm scared", I said, "Me too"
We both expressed our fears about the situation
Well, all night long that noise kept on
Throughout the night, the noises did not cease
And the sound would chill you right to the bone
The sounds were unsettling and frightening
The bullets and the bombs and the motor shells
The sounds were caused by bullets, bombs, and shells fired by military machinery
Shook our bed every time one fell and it never let up
Our bed was trembling every time these weapons were fired, and the noise did not stop
It was gonna get worse before it got any better
We knew that the situation was likely to deteriorate even further
Well when the sun came up the noise died down
As morning arrived, the noises outside gradually became quieter
We got a few minutes sleep and we were sleepin' sound
We managed to get some sleep before being interrupted
Then a soldier knocked on our door and said
We were interrupted by a soldier who knocked at our door
"Last night we brought in seven dead and fourteen wounded"
The soldier informed us that there were casualties among the troops
And would we come down to the base hospital
We were invited to come visit the soldiers at the hospital
And see the boys, yeah
The soldier encouraged us to visit the wounded soldiers
So we went to the hospital ward by day
We followed the soldier's invitation and went to visit the hospital by day
And every night we were singin' away
We continued to perform music for the soldiers every night
Then the shells and the bombs 'til dawn again
However, the sounds of bombs and shells continued every night until dawn
And the helicopters brought in a wounded man
Helicopters kept bringing wounded soldiers to the hospital for treatment
Night after night, day after day, comin' and a goin'
Every night and day, there were soldiers who came and went from the hospital
So we sadly sang for them our last song
Eventually, we had to say goodbye and perform our last song
And reluctantly we said so long
We said our goodbyes with reluctance
We did our best to let them know that we cared
Before leaving, we made sure to express our support and care for them
For every last one of them it's over there
We acknowledged that every soldier serving in Vietnam is in a dangerous and difficult place
Whether we belonged over there or not
Despite not being soldiers, we empathized with the soldiers' experiences in Vietnam
Somebody over here loves them and needs them
We reminded the soldiers that people who love and need them are waiting for them back home
Well, now that's about all there is to tell
That is the end of my story about our trip to Vietnam
About that little trip into livin' hell
Though brief, our trip was a harrowing experience
And if I ever go back over there anymore
If I ever return to Vietnam
Hope there's none of our boys there for me to sing for
I hope that there are no longer American soldiers fighting in Vietnam
I hope that war's over with and they all come back home
I wish for the end of the war, and for all soldiers to return to their loved ones.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: ROSANNE CASH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Timothy McCarthy
I was there at the NCO club and my memories are with me , i respect johnny for standing up as he did that night.
otumoetaipat
we need more men like Mr Cash these days.
05Hogsrule
Ive known about this song since I was a kid first hearing about it around 1972 or 3 (I was 11). This mans music was in my hip-pocket all my life. Im glad you discovered this one, and I wish you all the best in discovering all the others....in your own time.
ARWD AWD
the first time i discovered this song was before scrolling down and reading your comment
Fiona W
We need somebody like Mr Cash. His words make me cry and tells those stories with so much passion. He was the last great American. We need him
Gordon Nore
Talking Blues goes way back. Pete Seeger credits Woody Guthrie with teaching him how to do it. Cash admired both artists. He had a very young Arlo Guthrie perform on the show. He also took heat from ABC and Screen Gems Television for putting Pete on the air during his second season.
b chapman
love this song, it realy makes you think. r.i.p johnny and june
Angie Brimage
There no better then these men sing from the heart
DJ Sanders
my grandfather was in that war, he died before i got to meet him but not in the war but he told my dad it was life changing.
Frank Smathers
A true American !!!