Johnny Cash (born J.R. Cash; February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an… Read Full Bio ↴Johnny Cash (born J.R. Cash; February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an American singer, guitarist, actor, songwriter, author. He is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, having sold more than 90 million records worldwide. Although primarily remembered as a country music icon, his genre-spanning songs and sound embraced rock and roll, rockabilly, blues, folk, and gospel.

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 First Noel
Johnny Cash Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

The first noel, the angels did say
Was to certain poor shepherds,
In fields as they lay

In fields where they
Lay keeping their sheep
On a cold winters night, that was so deep

Noel, noel
Noel, noel
Born is the king of israel

When they looked up, and saw a star
Shining in the east, beyond them far
And to the earth, it gave great light
And so it continued both day, and night

Noel, noel
Noel, noel
Born is the king of israel

Noel, noel
Noel, noel
Born is the king of israel

(noel, noel)

Noel, noel
Noel, noel
Born is the king of israel
Noel, noel
Noel, noel
Born is the king of israel
Noel, noel
Noel, noel
Born is the king of israel
Noel, noel

Noel, noel
Born is the king of israel

Overall Meaning

The First Noel is a Christmas carol that tells the story of the birth of Jesus Christ from the perspective of the shepherds who were the first witnesses of his birth. The song begins by recalling the message that the angels proclaimed to the shepherds, announcing the birth of the "King of Israel" in a manger in Bethlehem. The shepherds, who were poor and humble, were the first to witness the miraculous event and thus were the first to spread the word of Jesus's birth.

The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the night of Jesus's birth with the shepherds keeping watch over their flocks in the fields on a cold winter's night. Suddenly, they see a bright star shining in the east which leads them to the place where Jesus is born. The star is a symbol of the great light that Jesus brings to the world and of the hope that he brings to all people.

The repetition of the word "Noel" throughout the song is an interesting feature, as it is derived from the French word "Noël" which means Christmas or the birth of Jesus. The word adds a festive and joyful tone to the song and serves as a reminder of the true meaning of Christmas. The song is often performed with a traditional melody that has been passed down through generations, adding to its timeless and enduring appeal.

Line by Line Meaning

The first noel, the angels did say
The angels announced the birth of Jesus with the first "noel"

Was to certain poor shepherds,
The message was delivered to lowly shepherds

In fields as they lay
The shepherds were resting in open fields

In fields where they Lay keeping their sheep On a cold winters night, that was so deep
It was a cold, deep winter night when the shepherds were watching their sheep in the fields

Noel, noel Noel, noel Born is the king of israel
"Noel" means "good news", and this repetition emphasizes the joyful proclamation that the king of Israel has been born

When they looked up, and saw a star
The shepherds saw a star shining in the east

Shining in the east, beyond them far And to the earth, it gave great light And so it continued both day, and night
The star gave great light and shone continuously, day and night

Noel, noel Noel, noel Born is the king of israel
Repeating the message reminds us that this news of the king's birth is truly "good news"

(noel, noel) Noel, noel Noel, noel Born is the king of israel
Again, the repetition of "noel" and the message itself reinforces the joyous occasion of the king's birth

Noel, noel Noel, noel Born is the king of israel Noel, noel Noel, noel Born is the king of israel
The song ends as it began, rejoicing in the birth of the king of Israel with the repeated message of "noel"

Contributed by Kaelyn E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS