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.
The Bug That Tried to Crawl Around the World
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I believe just about the biggest case of ambition I ever saw
Was in a bug that I saw crawlin' along the beach one day
He was a mighty ambitious bug
On the beach one early mornin' as a day was newly dawnin'
And the sun again was warmin' all the chill thru'out the land
I saw me a bug a walkin' and at first I thought he was quakin'
He was crawlin' mighty straight at a slow but a steady gait
And when I asked him to wait he said oh come on crawl with me
But I said where you goin' and he said you'll be knowin'
For I'm gonna make a showin' and you'll someday see
Well I stood there by the ocean I suddenly had the notion
That I start this big promotion so this challenge I enfirled said the bug
So I gave my wife a hug and I left my confy rug
So I could be the only bug that ever crawled around the world
Well he seemed mighty small and it was a long way to crawl
And I'm sure he couldn't swim at all so I try to discourage my friend
I said you know the world is round and there's mighty lotta ground
And there some water to be found before you reach your journey's end
And he said now don't you fret there's problems to be met
But I'll make it you can bet and this deed will bring glory to my name
You know they said man would never fly now he's soarin' in the sky
'Cause he had the will to try so let me win my fame
So he crawled on out of sight as he sought that splendoured height
Neither lookin' left nor right but slowly marchin' toward his goal
And my knowin' he had started on his journey as we parted
Kept me from feelin' too down hearted for he was a mighty ambitious soul
Well I've looked everywhere I've been and seen a lotta bugs since then
But not one quite like my little friend when I think of him I'm filled with pride
Did he make it I don't know he was crawlin' mighty slow and he had a long way to go
And all I can tell you folks is that he tried he sure was an ambitious bug
The song "The Bug That Tried to Crawl Around the World" by Johnny Cash tells the story of a bug that has a tremendous amount of ambition. The singer sees the bug on the beach and initially thinks it is quaking, but he soon realizes that the bug is actually talking. He tells the singer that he has an ambitious goal of crawling around the world, and he invites the singer to come along. The singer is skeptical but intrigued, so he decides to help the bug with his quest.
The bug faces many challenges along the way, including the fact that he cannot swim and that there is a lot of ground to cover. However, he remains determined and tells the singer that he will succeed. The singer watches as the bug crawls off into the distance, filled with pride for his ambitious little friend.
The song is a testament to the power of ambition and determination, and it encourages listeners to always strive for their goals, even if they seem impossible.
Line by Line Meaning
Now you've heard of folks with a lot of ambition
The singer is introducing the idea that there are people with great ambition.
But I believe just about the biggest case of ambition I ever saw
The singer is suggesting that the bug's ambition was greater than anything he had ever seen in humans.
Was in a bug that I saw crawlin' along the beach one day
The singer is explaining that the source of his awe-inspiring ambitiousness was in a bug he saw on the beach.
He was a mighty ambitious bug
The artist is reiterating how very ambitious the bug was.
On the beach one early mornin' as a day was newly dawnin'
The artist is setting the scene, describing the time of day when he saw the bug.
And the sun again was warmin' all the chill thru'out the land
The singer is describing the weather on the day he saw the bug.
I saw me a bug a walkin' and at first I thought he was quakin'
The singer is surprised to see a bug walking and thinks it is shaking with fear.
Then I found out he was talkin' while he crawled across the sand
The artist realizes that the bug is actually speaking while it crawls.
He was crawlin' mighty straight at a slow but a steady gait
The artist is describing how the bug was moving along at a consistent pace.
And when I asked him to wait he said oh come on crawl with me
The artist tried to talk to the bug but the bug urged him to crawl along with him.
But I said where you goin' and he said you'll be knowin'
The singer asked the bug where it was going, but the bug didn't give a clear answer.
For I'm gonna make a showin' and you'll someday see
The bug says it is going to put on a display and that the artist will see it.
Well I stood there by the ocean I suddenly had the notion
The singer is describing how he had a sudden idea while standing by the ocean.
That I start this big promotion so this challenge I enfirled said the bug
The bug inspired the singer to create a big promotion around the bug's journey.
So I gave my wife a hug and I left my confy rug
The singer left his home to go on this journey with the bug.
So I could be the only bug that ever crawled around the world
The artist wanted to be the only bug that had ever crawled around the world.
Well he seemed mighty small and it was a long way to crawl
The artist thought the bug seemed small compared to the enormity of the journey it had ahead of itself.
And I'm sure he couldn't swim at all so I try to discourage my friend
The singer thought the bug would not be able to swim, which would make the journey even more challenging, and so he tried to discourage the bug from attempting it.
I said you know the world is round and there's mighty lotta ground
The singer reminded the bug that the world is round and there is a lot of ground to cover.
And there some water to be found before you reach your journey's end
The artist cautioned the bug that there is water to cross before it can complete the journey.
And he said now don't you fret there's problems to be met
The bug reassured the artist that there would be problems to overcome but that he could handle them.
But I'll make it you can bet and this deed will bring glory to my name
The bug was confident that he could complete the journey and would gain renown for doing so.
You know they said man would never fly now he's soarin' in the sky
The bug was inspired by the idea that people had once said that humans would never fly, but they had figured out a way to make it happen anyway.
So let me win my fame
The bug is asking for a chance to succeed and become famous in the process.
So he crawled on out of sight as he sought that splendoured height
The bug continued on its journey, determined to reach its goal.
Neither lookin' left nor right but slowly marchin' toward his goal
The bug was focused on its goal and did not look around, but progressed steadily towards its destination.
And my knowin' he had started on his journey as we parted
The singer is saying that he had to leave before the bug could finish its journey.
Kept me from feelin' too down hearted for he was a mighty ambitious soul
The artist is saying that the bug's incredible ambition made him feel hopeful and inspired.
Well I've looked everywhere I've been and seen a lotta bugs since then
The artist has seen many bugs since his encounter with the ambitious bug.
But not one quite like my little friend when I think of him I'm filled with pride
The singer is saying that no bug he has seen since has had the same ambition and that he is proud to have met the bug.
Did he make it I don't know he was crawlin' mighty slow and he had a long way to go
The singer cannot say for sure whether the bug ever reached its destination, as it was moving very slowly and had a vast journey ahead of it.
And all I can tell you folks is that he tried he sure was an ambitious bug
The artist can say with certainty that the bug was very ambitious and that he tried his best to complete the journey.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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