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 Kneeling Drunkard's Plea
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Was the kneeling drunkard's plea
And as he knelt there on the ground
I know that God in heaven looked down
I went down by an old country church
I saw the drunkard stagger and lurch
And as he reached his mother's grave
Lord have mercy on me
Was the kneeling drunkard's plea
And as he knelt there on the ground
I know that God in heaven looked down
Bring my darling boy to me
Was his mother's dying plea
And as he staggered through the gate
A lassie came just one day too late
Three years have passed since she went away
Her son is sleeping beside her today
And I know that in heaven his mother he'll see
For God has heard that drunkard's plea
Lord have mercy on me
Was the kneeling drunkard's plea
And as he knelt there on the ground
I know that God in heaven looked down
I know that God in heaven looked down
The Kneeling Drunkard's Plea by Johnny Cash is a song that tells the story of a drunkard who stumbles upon an old country church where his mother is buried. As he reaches his mother's grave, he kneels down and begins to pray, pleading with the Lord to have mercy on him. The lyrics of the song emphasize the theme of redemption and the power of prayer.
The first verse of the song is a plea for mercy from the kneeling drunkard to the Lord. Here, the drunkard seeks forgiveness for his sins and prays for the Lord's mercy. In the second verse, the song reveals the backstory of the drunkard, who journeys to the old country church to visit his mother's grave. The third verse highlights the dying plea of the drunkard's mother, who requested her son's presence before she died. The final verse speaks of the afterlife and how the drunkard's mother will be reunited with her son in heaven.
The Kneeling Drunkard's Plea is a powerful song about redemption, prayer, and forgiveness. The song has a gospel feel and features Cash's distinctive voice and guitar playing. It is a beautiful reminder that no matter how far one has strayed, there is always hope for salvation and redemption.
Line by Line Meaning
Lord have mercy on me
The drunkard pleads to God for forgiveness and mercy.
Was the kneeling drunkard's plea
The drunkard fell to his knees and prayed humbly.
And as he knelt there on the ground
The drunkard remained kneeling on the ground in submission.
I know that God in heaven looked down
The artist believes that God saw the drunkard in his moment of humility.
I went down by an old country church
The artist observed the surroundings of an old church.
I saw the drunkard stagger and lurch
The singer witnessed the drunkard stumble and sway.
And as he reached his mother's grave
The drunkard approached the final resting place of his mother.
I saw that drunkard kneel and pray
The artist observed the drunkard praying humbly at his mother's grave.
Bring my darling boy to me
The drunkard's mother requested to be reunited with her son.
Was his mother's dying plea
The drunkard's mother made this request before her death.
And as he staggered through the gate
The drunkard stumbled through the entrance.
A lassie came just one day too late
A woman arrived too late to see the drunkard's mother before she died.
Three years have passed since she went away
Three years have passed since the drunkard's mother passed away.
Her son is sleeping beside her today
The drunkard's body is now lying beside his mother's in their shared resting place.
And I know that in heaven his mother he'll see
The singer believes that the drunkard will be reunited with his mother in the afterlife.
For God has heard that drunkard's plea
The artist believes that God has answered the drunkard's prayer for mercy and forgiveness.
I know that God in heaven looked down
The artist reiterates his belief that God saw the drunkard's moment of humility and answered his prayer.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ANITA CARTER, HELEN CARTER, MAYBELLE CARTER, JUNE CARTER CASH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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