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.
Six White Horses
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Open up the shutters, tell me what you see?
Was that his knock that I heard at the door
Or is it six white horses
Coming down the road?
Come here and touch me and
Say that it's alright
You know that to my eyes the
Read again the letter that tells
Me where he's gone
To hell with the fighting, I want my son home
I taught him to fish and I
Taught him to be strong
I taught him that killing any man was wrong
But tomorrow in battle I'd run
To where he stood
If the help of a blind man would do any good
Last night I went to his room for awhile
I've touched all the things that
He used as a child
I rocked the cradle where he used to lay
I found his tin soldiers and threw them away
Come here and look through the window Marie
Open up the shutters, tell me what you see
Was that his knock that I heard at the door
Or is it six white horses coming up the road?
The lyrics of Johnny Cash's song "Six White Horses" depict the painful longing and anticipation of a father, possibly during wartime, waiting anxiously for his son's return. The song is filled with raw emotions and a sense of apprehension, as the singer pleads with Marie to look through the window and tell him what she sees. He wonders if the knock on the door is his son returning or if it's the arrival of six white horses, symbolizing death and the tragic news of his son's demise.
The lyrics convey the immense desperation and yearning of the singer to be reunited with his son. He asks Marie to touch him and reassure him that everything will be alright. The days and nights blend together for him, as his only focus is on finding solace in his son's safe return. The letter that reveals his son's whereabouts becomes a source of anger and frustration, as the singer expresses his desire to have his son back home, as opposed to being involved in a war that results in fighting and death.
The song also highlights the conflicting emotions of the singer. He reflects upon the lessons he taught his son, such as fishing and the importance of not taking another man's life. Despite these teachings, the singer admits that he would run to his son's side, even if it meant participating in the battle, if it could make a difference. His love for his son is so powerful that he is willing to go against his own principles to protect him.
The song explores the tender moments the father cherishes in his son's absence. He seeks solace by visiting his son's room and reminiscing about his childhood. The cradle, where his son slept as a baby, becomes a symbol of innocence and vulnerability. Ultimately, the singer discards his son's tin soldiers, representing the renouncement of war and violence in the hope of a peaceful future.
Line by Line Meaning
Come here and look through the window Marie
Please come here and join me at the window, Marie
Open up the shutters, tell me what you see?
Pull back the shutters to see what is outside and describe it to me
Was that his knock that I heard at the door
Could that sound I heard be the knock of his presence at our door?
Or is it six white horses coming down the road?
Alternatively, could it be six white horses approaching on the road?
Come here and touch me and say that it's alright
Come closer to me, embrace me, and reassure me that everything is okay
You know that to my eyes the days are as the nights
You are aware that to me, the days are indistinguishable from the nights in my grief
Read again the letter that tells me where he's gone
Read aloud once more the letter that informs me of his whereabouts
To hell with the fighting, I want my son home
I no longer care about the battles, I simply desire my son's safe return
I taught him to fish and I taught him to be strong
I educated him on the skills of fishing and instilled in him the value of strength
I taught him that killing any man was wrong
I imparted upon him the belief that taking another person's life is morally incorrect
But tomorrow in battle, I'd run to where he stood
However, if it were possible, I would swiftly rush to his side in the midst of battle
If the help of a blind man would do any good
Even if the assistance of a blind person would have any beneficial impact
Last night I went to his room for awhile
Last night, I visited his room for a brief period of time
I've touched all the things that he used as a child
I have physically interacted with all the objects he utilized during his childhood
I rocked the cradle where he used to lay
I gently swayed the cradle in which he used to sleep
I found his tin soldiers and threw them away
I discovered his toy soldiers made of tin, and decided to discard them
Come here and look through the window Marie
Once again, please come here and join me at the window, Marie
Open up the shutters, tell me what you see
Pull back the shutters once more and describe to me what you observe
Was that his knock that I heard at the door
Is it possible that the knock I heard is his arrival at our door?
Or is it six white horses coming up the road?
Alternatively, could it be six white horses approaching on the road?
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
N E R D
Such a great song.
Unknow unkown
love this song when tommy is singing love it even more when jonny does
irish 7340
So amazing.
Tom Shark
Yes, this is a Tommy Cash song. There is a completely different Six White Horses by Waylon Jennings...both are great songs.
Bill Brower
Might that be Stan Johnson's version ???
Bill Brower
GREAT JOB BY JOHNNY !!!
gavin long
classic
Garry Eslinger
it was written by Larry Murray recorded by Tommy Cash 1969
the other version was written by Bobby Bond
released by Henson Cargill in 1968
covered by Waylon and Karl Blau
Ila Hilda Sissac
I just heard this tune, a very haunting tribute song.
Jeannine Jublot
Ila Hilda Sissac i