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 Christmas Guest
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The Christmas Guest by Johnny Cash is a heartwarming story that celebrates the true meaning of Christmas. The story is about an old man named Conrad who lived alone, and the events that unfolded when he invited the Lord to be his guest at Christmas. Conrad's faith and generosity in sharing what little he had with those in need is a powerful message on the importance of love, kindness, and compassion.
Conrad's story is a reminder that sometimes the greatest gifts we can give are not material things but rather the simple acts of kindness that represent the true spirit of Christmas. This idea is echoed throughout the song as Conrad welcomes each stranger into his home and offers them warmth, food, and companionship. The significance of this message is reflected in the final verse, where the Lord reveals Himself to Conrad and explains that the greatest gift of all is love.
The Christmas Guest is a beautiful song that reflects the true meaning of the holiday season. It is a reminder to celebrate the warmth and love of family and friends and to share the spirit of Christmas with everyone around us.
Line by Line Meaning
It happened one day near December's end
One day close to the end of December
Two neighbors called on an old friend.
Two neighbors went to visit their old friend.
And they found his shop so meager and lean
They saw that his shop was very bare.
Made gay with thousand bows of green
But it was decorated with many bows of green.
And Conrad was sitting with face a-shine
The friend, Conrad, was there with a glowing face.
When he suddenly stopped as he stitched a twine
He stopped sewing twine abruptly.
And he said "Old friends, at dawn today,
And he said to his friends, "This morning at dawn,
When the cock was crowing the night away
when the rooster was announcing the morning,
The Lord appeared in a dream to me
The Lord appeared to him in a dream.
And said "I'm coming your guest to be."
And said, "I am coming to be your guest."
So I've been busy with feet astir
So he was busy preparing,
Strewing my shop with branches of fern.
Decorating his shop with branches of ferns.
The table is spread and the kettle is shined.
Preparing the table and cleaning the kettle.
And over the rafters the holly is twined.
He hung holly over the rafters.
Now I'll wait for my Lord to appear
He'll wait for the Lord to arrive.
And listen closely so I will hear
He will listen carefully so he can hear
His step as He nears my humble place.
The Lord's steps as he approaches.
And I'll open the door and look on His face.
And he'll open the door and see the Lord's face.
So his friends went home and left Conrad alone
Conrad's friends left him alone.
For this was the happiest day he had known,
But this was the happiest day he'd experienced,
For long since, his family had passed away
Because his family had passed away long ago.
And Conrad had spent many a sad Christmas Day.
And Conrad had spent many sad Christmas days.
But he knew with the Lord as his Christmas Guest
But he knew that with the Lord as his guest,
This Christmas would be the dearest and best.
This Christmas would be the most special.
So he listened with only joy in his heart
So he listened with only happiness in his heart.
And with every sound he would rise with a start
And he would jump up at every sound.
And look for the Lord to be at his door.
And would look to see if the Lord was at the door.
Like the vision he had had a few hours before.
Like the vision he had seen a few hours earlier.
So he ran to the window after hearing a sound
So he ran to the window after hearing a noise.
But all he could see on the snow-covered ground
But all he saw was snow-covered ground.
Was a shabby beggar whose shoes were torn
He saw a shabby beggar with torn shoes.
And all of his clothes were ragged and worn.
And all of his clothes were torn and tattered.
But Conrad was touched and he went to the door
But Conrad was moved and went to the door.
And he said, "You know, your feet must be frozen and sore.
And he said, "Your feet must be cold and sore.
I have some shoes in my shop for you
I have some shoes for you in my shop.
And a coat that will keep you warmer too."
And a coat that will keep you warmer as well."
So with a grateful heart, the man went away,
The beggar left with a grateful heart.
But Conrad noticed the time of day
But Conrad realized what time it was.
And wondered what made the Lord so late
And wondered why the Lord was so late.
And how much longer he'd have to wait.
And how much longer he would need to wait.
When he heard a knock, he ran to the door
When he heard a knock, he ran to the door.
But it was only a stranger once more.
But it was only another stranger.
A bent old lady with a shawl of black
An old lady with a black shawl and bent back.
With a bundle of kindling piled on her back.
With a pile of kindling on her back.
She asked for only a place to rest
She only asked for a place to rest.
But that was reserved for Conrad's Great Guest.
But that was reserved for Conrad's special guest.
But her voice seemed to plead "Don't send me away,
But she pleaded, "Please don't send me away,
Let me rest for awhile on Christmas Day"
Let me rest for a while on Christmas Day."
So Conrad brewed her a steaming cup
So Conrad made her a hot cup of drink.
And told her to sit at the table and sup.
And he asked her to sit at the table and drink.
But after she left he was filled with dismay
But after she left, he felt upset and frustrated.
For he saw that the hours were slipping away
Because he noticed that the hours were passing quickly.
And the Lord hadn't come as he said he would.
And the Lord didn't come as he had promised.
Then Conrad felt sure he had misunderstood.
Conrad realized that he had misunderstood the Lord.
When out of the stillness he heard a cry
Suddenly, he heard a cry out of the quietness.
"Please help me and tell me where am I?"
"Please help me and tell me where I am?"
So again he opened his friendly door
So he opened his door again to be friendly.
And stood disappointed as twice before.
But was disappointed like the two times before.
It was only a child who'd wandered away
It was only a child who had wandered away.
And was lost from her family on Christmas Day.
And was lost from her family on Christmas Day.
Again Conrad's heart was heavy and sad
Again, Conrad's heart was heavy with sadness.
But he knew he should make the little girl glad.
But he knew he should make the little girl happy.
So he called her in and he wiped her tears
So he invited her in and wiped her tears.
And quieted all her childish fears.
And calmed all of her childish fears.
Then he led her back to her home once more
Then he took her back to her home again.
But as he entered his own darkened door,
But as he came back to his own house,
he knew the Lord was not coming today.
He knew that the Lord would not come that day.
For the hours of Christmas had passed away
Because Christmas day had passed.
So he went to his room and knelt down to pray
So he went to his room and prayed on his knees.
And he said "Dear Lord, why did you delay?
And he said, "Dear Lord, why did you delay?
What kept you from coming to call on me?
What stopped you from coming to see me?
For I wanted so much your face to see."
Because I really wanted to see your face."
When soft in the silence, a voice he heard.
Quietly in the silence, he heard a voice.
"Lift up your head, for I kept my word.
And the voice said, "Lift up your head, for I kept my promise.
Three times my shadow crossed your floor,
Three times I visited you,
And three times I came to your lonely door.
And three times I knocked on your lonely door.
I was the beggar with bruised, cold feet,
I was the beggar with cold and hurt feet,
And I was the woman you gave something to eat.
And I was the woman you gave food to.
I was the child on the homeless street.
I was the child on the streets without a home.
Three times I knocked, and three times I came in.
Three times I knocked and three times I came in.
And each time I found the warmth of a friend.
And each time I found the warmth of a friend.
Of all the gifts, love is the best.
Out of all the gifts, love is the best.
And I was honored to be your Christmas Guest."
And I was honored to be your Christmas Guest.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: BILL WALKER, GRANDPA JONES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Marcia Cleek
The Christmas Guest is by far my favorite song for the season. I've been without my parents for 40 yrs. And my only sibling I lost 2yrs ago. So I feel as though one day ill be able to see my family again.
Jim Burden
Marcia Cleek I hear you no family this year
ThanksgivingWalk
Hard not to get a little misty eyed on this one. Thanks so much for sharing. Beautiful, just beautiful!
Johnny Debeltz
This is an excellent and important story. Johnny Cash is the best person to have put this in words. A story that can melt a hard heart. 🎄
Johnny Debeltz
@Catherine Keena I didn't think that he created the song, I like the story.
Johnny Debeltz
@Catherine Keena I'll have to check that out, thank you for the suggestion.
Catherine Keena
Bur Jonny Cash wasn’t the creator of this song....
Catherine Keena
You haven’t truly heard this song unless you’ve heard it sung by Andy Griffith
MyBlackvelvet
Matthew 25:40.....What you do for the least of these you do for me. Have a Blessed Christmas
Jerome Kujawa
Helen Steiner Rice of Ohio wrote this, "The Story Of The Christmas Guest." My Aunt Nellie, a Methodist Sunday School Teacher gave me this in a tiny book, Christmas Eve 1970, and it is one of my treasures, my idea of a family heirloom!!