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.
Southern Accents
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where I come from
The young 'uns call it country
The Yankees call it dumb
I got my own way of talkin'
But everything is done
With a southern accent
Where I come from
Now that drunk tank in Atlanta
Was just a motel room to me
I think I might go work Orlando
If them orange groves don't freeze
I got my own way of workin'
But everything is run
With a southern accent
Where I come from
For just a minute there I was dreaming
For just a minute it was all so real
For just a minute she was standing there, with me
There's a dream that I keep having
Where my mama comes to me
And she kneels down over by the window
And says a prayer for me
I got my own way of prayin'
And everyone's begun
With a southern accent
Where I come from
We have our own way of livin'
And everything is done
With a southern accent
Where I come from
Johnny Cash’s song Southern Accents celebrates the uniqueness and pride of the Southern accent and culture. The song talks about how everything in the South is done with a Southern accent, even praying. He acknowledges that while some outsiders may find the accent and culture dumb, it is part of what makes the South special. Cash then talks about two situations where he had to leave the South briefly but used his Southern upbringing to get by. Cash is aware that he speaks differently and has a unique way of working, but it is something he is proud of because it stems from where he comes from. The song ends with Cash’s mother saying a prayer for him, showcasing the passion and faith that also lies deep in the hearts of those from the South.
Southern Accents was written by Tom Petty and was influenced by the time he spent living in Gainesville, Florida, and Memphis, Tennessee. Johnny Cash recorded the song in 1983 for his album Johnny Cash: The Baron.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a southern accent
The way I talk has a southern accent.
Where I come from
I'm from the South.
The young 'uns call it country
Some people call my southern accent country.
The Yankees call it dumb
Some people think my southern accent is stupid.
I got my own way of talkin'
I speak with my own unique style.
But everything is done
Everything I do is influenced by the South.
With a southern accent
I can't help but add a southern twang to everything.
Now that drunk tank in Atlanta
The drunk tank in Atlanta wasn't a big deal to me.
Was just a motel room to me
I didn't find the drunk tank in Atlanta to be particularly scary or depressing.
I think I might go work Orlando
I'm considering working in Orlando.
If them orange groves don't freeze
I hope the orange groves in Orlando don't freeze over and ruin the job opportunity.
I got my own way of workin'
I have my own unique style of working.
But everything is run
My work is still influenced by the South.
For just a minute there I was dreaming
I had a brief moment of hope or fantasy.
For just a minute it was all so real
For a moment, my dream felt like reality.
For just a minute she was standing there, with me
For a moment, I imagined being with someone special.
There's a dream that I keep having
I have a recurring dream.
Where my mama comes to me
In the dream, my mother visits me.
And she kneels down over by the window
In the dream, my mother kneels by the window.
And says a prayer for me
In the dream, my mother prays for me.
I got my own way of prayin'
I pray in my own unique style.
And everyone's begun
Many people in the South have their own way of praying.
We have our own way of livin'
People in the South have their own way of living.
And everything is done
The southern way of life influences everything we do.
With a southern accent
We can't help but add a southern twang to everything.
Where I come from
This is just how things are in the South.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: Tom Petty
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
ThrashMetallix
A legend of his time, giving a beautiful cover from a legend of his time.
Rest well Cash. Rest well Petty. :')
gamedemon24
Cash and Petty should've done more together. It doesn't get much more Southern than them.
GSmith
Tom Petty actually opened for Johnny on a Tour before
Richard Applebee
I love TP and the Heartbreakers and this collaboration is outstanding. I am a Southern California kid (well 61 years old) and this brings tears to my eyes.
Armand Di Meo
An incredibly powerful and moving song. It moves me to tears every time I hear it. Johnny Cash and Tom Petty, you both left us way too soon.
Richard Joslin
A truly soulful reminder of what a great man he was.
Scott Matznick
He was kind of a jerk 😂
Cody Igor
I never knew this exisisted until today....all I can say is wow
RIP Tom and Johnny
Cheryl Mavrikos
Johnny's cover of this gorgeous Tom Petty song just brings me to my knees. Heartbreakingly beautiful.
Noble Savage
They both made their way with an accent all thier own.....southern, true & honest.....I miss them both dearly