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 Fourth Man In The Fire
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They wouldn't bend
They held on to the will of God so we are told
They wouldn't bow
They would not bow their knees to Idols made of gold
They wouldn't burn
They were protected by the Fourth Man in the fire
They wouldn't bend
Now the prophet Daniel tells about
Three men who walked with God
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego
Before the wicked king they stood
And the king commanded them bound and thrown
Into the fiery furnace that day
But the fire was so hot that the men were slain
That forced them on their way.
Refrain:
Now when the three were cast in and the king rose up
To witness this awful fate
He began to tremble at what he saw
In astonished tones he spake
Did we not cast three men bound
Into the midst of the fire
Well, Lo, I see four men unhurt
Unbound and walkin' down there;
There's Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego
And the fiery coals they trod
But the form of the Fourth Man that I see
Is like the Son of God
In Johnny Cash's song The Fourth Man in the Fire, the lyrics refer to the story in the book of Daniel from the Old Testament of the Bible. The song tells the story of three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who refused to bow down to a golden image made by King Nebuchadnezzar. As punishment, the king ordered them to be thrown into a fiery furnace. Despite the intense heat of the furnace, the three men did not burn because they were protected by the Fourth Man in the fire, identified as the Son of God. The refrain repeats the idea that the three men "wouldn't bend, wouldn't bow, wouldn't burn" and held on to their faith in God even in the face of death.
The song highlights the courage and conviction of the three men who refused to compromise their beliefs under pressure from the king's command. They stood firm in their faith and were willing to face the consequences of their actions even if it meant death. The story has been interpreted as a lesson about staying true to one's faith and not compromising in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
They wouldn't bend
Despite the pressure put on them, they did not yield.
They held on to the will of God so we are told
They remained steadfast in their faith in God, as is rumored.
They wouldn't bow
They refused to pay homage to false gods.
They would not bow their knees to Idols made of gold
They would not subordinate themselves to worship a symbol of earthly wealth.
They wouldn't burn
Although surrounded by a raging fire, they remained unscathed.
They were protected by the Fourth Man in the fire
A fourth figure, divine in nature, emerged to guard them.
They wouldn't bend
Reiteration of their steadfastness.
They wouldn't bow, they wouldn't burn.
Summary of their unwavering faith.
Now the prophet Daniel tells about
The story is recounted in the book of Daniel.
Three men who walked with God
Three individuals who were devout in their faith.
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego
The names of these three men.
Before the wicked king they stood
They found themselves in the presence of a tyrannical ruler.
And the king commanded them bound and thrown
The king ordered for them to be restrained and cast into a furnace.
Into the fiery furnace that day
They were cast into a blazing furnace at that moment.
But the fire was so hot that the men were slain
The heat caused the death of those tasked with throwing the men into the furnace.
That forced them on their way
The intensity of the heat compelled them to carry out their task.
Now when the three were cast in and the king rose up
Following the act, the king got up to watch what would happen.
To witness this awful fate
To observe the terrible outcome he expected.
He began to tremble at what he saw
He was filled with fear upon witnessing the unexpected turn of events.
In astonished tones he spake
He expressed his amazement in utter disbelief.
Did we not cast three men bound
He posed a rhetorical question, verifying the number of individuals thrown in.
Into the midst of the fire
Into the heart of the fire, in its center.
Well, Lo, I see four men unhurt
He observed four individuals in good health.
Unbound and walkin' down there;
They were walking and not restrained in any way.
There's Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego
The three individuals who were thrown into the furnace are present.
And the fiery coals they trod
They were walking upon burning embers.
But the form of the Fourth Man that I see
An additional person was present, a fourth figure.
Is like the Son of God
This fourth figure resembled the divine and was therefore perceived as the Son of God.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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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