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 Diplomat
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gently brushed the silver strand of hair from his wrinkled brow
Lips that used to talk so free the eyes that used to beckon me were silent now
He listens to a passin' train gives into an old familiar pain familiar pain
They retired him twenty years ago gave him a watch made of gold and took his train
His woman's name was Margaret
He loved her but she went away and left his heart undone
He called this train the Diplomat she's the only other lady that he ever loved
From Memphis down to New Orleans but now he's off the line
And the closest that he ever gets Margaret or the Diplomat is in his mind
He siad take me to the station the Diplomat is bringing Margaret home
Can't you hear that whistle blowing they both know I've been alone for much too long
Let's not keep 'em waitin' we'll talk about the good times later on
Right now take me to the station the Diplomat is bringing Margaret home
They say he talks crazy when
He sees the passin' train or when he hears Margaret's name
But the only things he ever loved he lost before he loved enough he's not to blame
So who's to say he's right or wrong
Reachin' out and hangin' on to dreams he can't let go
He threw the watch of gold away but keeps tracks of memories where he belongs
He siad take me to the station...
They retired him twenty years ago gave him a watch made of gold
And took daddy's train
Johnny Cash's song "The Diplomat" tells the story of an older man who is reminiscing about his past while waiting for a train to arrive. The man used to work as a train conductor on the The Diplomat, a train that ran from Memphis to New Orleans, and he loved both the train and his wife, Margaret. Margaret left him many years ago and he has been alone ever since, living off of memories and dreams. He often talks about the train or Margaret, and some people think he's crazy for it. However, the man is simply holding on to the things he loved, even if they're only in his mind now.
The song is a poignant reflection on the nature of memory and the power that our past experiences can hold over us. The man's attachment to the train and his lost love is a powerful example of how the things we go through in life can leave a lasting mark on us, and how difficult it can be to let go of those attachments. In the end, the man is still waiting for the train to arrive, holding on to hope that something from his past might return.
Overall, "The Diplomat" is a heart-wrenching song that speaks to the power of memory and the human desire to hold on to the things we love, even when they're long gone.
Line by Line Meaning
He slowly raised the trembling hand
The old man slowly lifted his shaking hand
Gently brushed the silver strand of hair from his wrinkled brow
He carefully brushed aside a strand of his gray hair from his furrowed forehead
Lips that used to talk so free the eyes that used to beckon me were silent now
Once-busy mouth and persuasive eyes that were once full of life are now quiet and still
He listens to a passin' train gives into an old familiar pain familiar pain
He hears a train pass and succumbs to an old, recollected pain
They retired him twenty years ago gave him a watch made of gold and took his train
The railway company retired him two decades ago, gifted him a gold watch and took his train away
His woman's name was Margaret
His lover's name was Margaret
He loved her but she went away and left his heart undone
He cherished her, but she departed and broke his heart
He called this train the Diplomat she's the only other lady that he ever loved
He named this train the Diplomat, and it's the only other thing he ever loved like Margaret
Some forty years he made the steam
He spent around 40 years as a steam train driver
From Memphis down to New Orleans but now he's off the line
He drove from Memphis to New Orleans, but now he's no longer working
And the closest that he ever gets Margaret or the Diplomat is in his mind
The only way he can feel close to Margaret or the Diplomat is by remembering them
He siad take me to the station the Diplomat is bringing Margaret home
He pleaded to be taken to the station since the Diplomat train is bringing Margaret back
Can't you hear that whistle blowing they both know I've been alone for much too long
He hears the train's whistle and knows that both Margaret and the train recognize he has been alone for too long
Let's not keep 'em waitin' we'll talk about the good times later on
Don't make them wait; we can reminisce later about the good times
Right now take me to the station the Diplomat is bringing Margaret home
Immediately take me to the station since the Diplomat is bringing Margaret back
They say he talks crazy when
People claim he speaks crazily when
He sees the passin' train or when he hears Margaret's name
He sees a train pass or hears Margaret's name
But the only things he ever loved he lost before he loved enough he's not to blame
He lost the only things he ever loved even before loving them enough; it's not his fault
So who's to say he's right or wrong
Who can judge whether he's right or wrong
Reachin' out and hangin' on to dreams he can't let go
The old man holds tight to dreams he cannot relinquish
He threw the watch of gold away but keeps tracks of memories where he belongs
He discarded the gold watch but holds on to the memories where he feels at home
And took daddy's train
They also took his father's train, causing him more pain and loss
Contributed by Miles F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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