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 Chicken in Black
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So the doctor checked me and
He shook his head he said
"I'm sorry to tell you but
Your body's outlived your brain"
He said, "I know this doctor in New York son
And he'll fix you up right
With a brand new one"
I stepped down off the train he said
"We had this bank robber killed last night
His body's shot but his brain's alright
I'll give you a transplant boy
And it'll be okay"
I got my new brain in and I was feeling great
I went right back to
Nashville with no headache
But something strange happened when I walked
In the bank one day
I said "Stick 'em up everybody
I'm robbing this place
Drop all of your money in my guitar case
Don't nobody move and don't nobody
Reach for that door
A lady said, "Why, you're Johnny Cash!"
I said, "No ma'am, I'm the Manhattan Flash
And I am the best bank robber in New York"
Now the other night, Roy Acuff called me
He said, "John
I'd like for you to do the Opry"
So I went out on the stage
But I couldn't sing i got into half a verse
Of "I Walk The Line"
And something snapped in that head of mine
I yelled, "Stick 'em up! Gimme
Your money, your watches, and rings"
Well I called New York and
Talked to that brain quack i said, "Doc
I've got to have my old brain back"
He said, "I'm sorry there Mr cash
But I can't do that" he said
"I put your brain in a chicken last Monday
He singing your songs and
Making lots of money and I got him signed to
A ten year recording contract" now friends
If you see me walking down the street
Remember what you see ain't necessarily me
And if I try to hold you up
Don't pay me no mind
But when you got ten bucks that you can blow
You ought to catch that Johnny Chicken Show
He's doin' fairs and concert dates all
Up and down the line
I said "Stick 'em up everybody
I'm robbing this place
Drop all of your money in my guitar case
Don't nobody move and don't nobody
Reach for that door
A lady said, "Why, you're Johnny Cash!"
I said, "No ma'am, I'm the Manhattan Flash
And I am the best bank robber in New York"
Well, I don't pay any income tax
You don't pay tax on money you steal
But you ought to catch
That Johnny Chicken Show chicken In Black
Mm
The Man in Black is a song by Johnny Cash which offers insight into his philosophy of life, reflected in his attire. He explains why he always wears black, notes the somber undertones of his appearance, highlighting that there is a specific reason behind his choice of dress. In the first verse, Johnny Cash emphasizes that he wears black for a specific purpose. He is doing it for the poor, for the prisoners who have paid for their sins and are being punished unjustly by society, for the individuals who are not fortunate to have access to education or to Jesus's teachings of love and charity.
In the second verse, Cash touches on the success of society and how people are easily distracted by their fancy clothes and material possessions. However, taking a step back, he reminds people that there are individuals who are not as fortunate and are being held back. He wears black for the sick and elderly, for the young men lost to war, and for the thousands of Americans who lost their lives believing their country was on their side.
The chorus serves as a reminder that despite the desire to wear bright colors to showcase the world’s beauty, Cash chooses to wear black until society begins to improve itself through accountability and change. The Man in Black is a call to action, reminding listeners that society is not perfect and there is still work left undone.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, you wonder why I always dress in black,
I dress in black all the time, and you might be curious why.
Why you never see bright colors on my back,
I don't wear bright colors.
And why does my appearance seem to have a somber tone.
I look a little gloomy.
Well, there's a reason for the things that I have on.
There's a reason for my choice of clothing.
I wear the black for the poor and the beaten down,
I wear black for those who are poor and oppressed.
Livin' in the hopeless, hungry side of town,
Those people live in areas where there is no hope and with no food.
I wear it for the prisoner who has long paid for his crime,
I wear black for prisoners who have served their time but are still trapped.
But is there because he's a victim of the times.
The prisoner is there because of the difficult times.
I wear the black for those who never read,
I dedicate the black to those who don't read.
Or listened to the words that Jesus said,
People who ignore the teachings of Jesus.
About the road to happiness through love and charity,
Jesus spoke about a path to joy through love and kindness.
Why, you'd think He's talking straight to you and me.
It's as if Jesus is speaking to everyone.
Well, we're doin' mighty fine, I do suppose,
We're doing okay, I guess.
In our streak of lightnin' cars and fancy clothes,
We own fast cars and wear expensive clothes.
But just so we're reminded of the ones who are held back,
We should always remember the ones who can't keep up with us.
Up front there ought 'a be a Man In Black.
There should be someone in black in front of us to remind us of those held back.
I wear it for the sick and lonely old,
I wear black for the ill and lonely elderly.
For the reckless ones whose bad trip left them cold,
For those who made mistakes that left them alone and cold.
I wear the black in mournin' for the lives that could have been,
I mourn for the lives that could have been.
Each week we lose a hundred fine young men.
We lose so many young people every week.
And, I wear it for the thousands who have died,
I wear black for the thousands who have died.
Believen' that the Lord was on their side,
They believed that God was with them.
I wear it for another hundred thousand who have died,
I also wear black for the hundred thousand who have died.
Believen' that we all were on their side.
They believed that we were with them.
Well, there's things that never will be right I know,
I know some things will never be right.
And things need changin' everywhere you go,
Things must change everywhere.
But 'til we start to make a move to make a few things right,
We need to begin making things right.
You'll never see me wear a suit of white.
I won't start wearing elegant clothing until things improve.
Ah, I'd love to wear a rainbow every day,
I'd like to wear bright colors each day.
And tell the world that everything's OK,
And tell everyone that everything is going well.
But I'll try to carry off a little darkness on my back,
I'll carry some sadness with me.
Till things are brighter, I'm the Man In Black.
Until things improve, I'll be the person in black.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TheBraulio7850
Johnny Cash Out here dropping music videos from the grave but I can’t get a text back
@universaltomato5715
Legendary
@depressionandanxiety4839
10,000 gold coins and maybe I can get to text back
@boybutchpatriot3477
Ain’t no grave can hold his body down
@justacinnamonbun8658
Never knew he did music videos LOL I'm pleasantly surprised. Tell me there's a music video for One Piece at a Time 🙏🏼
@jinlim6575
@@justacinnamonbun8658 there's a music video for One Piece at a Time
@dbuzman
And Johnny Chickens biggest hit was "I squawk The Line".
@alexandrahamm3343
this deserves way more likes than it got
@Aiden-cp7kl
I think his biggest hit is "Chicken Sang Bass".
@elkinsinboxinc
25 minutes to fry.