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.
Thanks a Lot
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You even say I stay away and don't come home at night
I'm losing you and you are all I've got thanks a lot thanks a lot
It seems you like to hurt me and you know I'm good to you
I'd give you anything I own do anything you want me to
Yeah now you really got me on the spot thanks a lot thanks a lot
But it seems that you're just out to get me
And it looks as if you're just about to win
No matter what you do I'll always do love you
And you will never know how it hurts to see you go
And you're callin' me those things you know I'm not thanks a lot thanks a lot
No matter what you do I always do love you
And you will never know how it hurts to see you go
You say I'm happy but you know I'm not thanks a lot thanks a lot thanks a lot
The song "Thanks a Lot" by Johnny Cash is a heart-wrenching ballad about a man who is losing the woman he loves due to rumors and accusations. The lyrics convey the singer's feelings of hurt and betrayal as he is accused of not treating his lover right, staying away from home at night, and being happy when in reality, he is not. The singer is losing the one person who means everything to him, and he expresses his pain by repeating the phrase "thanks a lot" which is ironic as it implies gratitude for something good when in reality, he is feeling hurt and abandoned.
The song portrays an individual who is willing to forgive and try again, but the other person seems content on hurting him. This line "But it seems that you're just out to get me, And it looks as if you're just about to win" shows that the singer is aware of the other person's intentions and feels helpless. The line "Still I would forgive you if you'd let me" conveys the singer's willingness to forgive and start over. However, his efforts are in vain as the other person seems to enjoy hurting him.
The song is a powerful reminder of how rumors and accusations can destroy relationships. The singer's pain is heightened by the fact that he is losing the one person who means the world to him because of rumors being spread about him. The irony of the repeated phrase "thanks a lot" at the end of each verse showcases how the singer feels sarcastically grateful for the pain he is experiencing.
Line by Line Meaning
You're tellin' everyone in town that I don't treat you right
You are spreading rumors about me and telling everyone in town that I am not treating you well.
You even say I stay away and don't come home at night
On top of spreading rumors, you are also saying that I am never at home and am always out doing something else.
I'm losing you and you are all I've got thanks a lot thanks a lot
I am losing the only person I care about and it is all because of your hurtful actions. Thanks a lot for causing me this pain.
It seems you like to hurt me and you know I'm good to you
It seems like you enjoy causing me emotional pain despite the fact that I have always treated you well.
I'd give you anything I own do anything you want me to
I am willing to do anything and give you anything you want, just to make you happy and keep our relationship intact.
Yeah now you really got me on the spot thanks a lot thanks a lot
Your hurtful actions have left me in a difficult situation and have caused me a lot of emotional distress. Thanks a lot for putting me in this position.
Still I would forgive you if you'd let me I'd be glad if we could try again
Despite everything, I am willing to forgive you and start over if you are willing to work with me and try again.
But it seems that you're just out to get me
It seems like you are purposely trying to hurt me and our relationship, rather than working to fix it.
And it looks as if you're just about to win
From where I am standing, it looks like you are winning in your mission to hurt me and break us apart.
No matter what you do I'll always do love you
No matter how much you hurt me, I will always love you and care about you.
And you will never know how it hurts to see you go
It hurts me deeply to think about losing you and I cannot express just how painful it would be.
And you're callin' me those things you know I'm not thanks a lot thanks a lot
You are calling me names and accusing me of things that are not true, causing me even more emotional pain. Thanks a lot for adding to my suffering.
No matter what you do I always do love you
Once again, no matter how you treat me, I will always love you.
And you will never know how it hurts to see you go
It is impossible for you to understand just how much pain I am feeling at the thought of losing you.
You say I'm happy but you know I'm not thanks a lot thanks a lot thanks a lot
You claim that I am happy, but you know deep down that I am not. Thanks a lot for pretending like everything is fine when it clearly is not.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHARLIE RICH
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