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 Old Account Start
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That an Old Account was standin' for sins yet unforgiven
My name was at the top there were many things below
But I went unto the keeper and I settled it long ago
Long ago, yes long ago (I settled it all)
I said the Old Account was settled long ago
And my record's clear today, he washed my sins away
Well the Old Account was large and growin' everyday
I was always sinnin' and I never tried to pray
But when I looked ahead and saw such pain and woe
Well I thought I'd better get it settled, so I settled it long ago
Long ago, yes long ago (I settled it all)
I said the Old Account was settled long ago
And my record's clear today, he done washed my sins away
And the Old Account was settled long ago (tell em about it)
Now sinner seek the Lord, and repent of all your sins
'Cause this He commanded if we're gonna make it in
And then if you should live one hundred years below
You gonna know you got it settled 'cause you settled it long ago
Long ago, yes long ago (I settled it all)
I said the Old Account was settled long ago
And my record's clear today, he done washed my sins away
And the Old Account was settled long ago (tell em about it)
Johnny Cash's song "The Old Account Was Settled Long Ago" is a powerful statement about redemption and forgiveness. The song speaks to the idea that we all have an "Old Account" of sins that need to be settled, and that through seeking the Lord and repenting, we can find peace and forgiveness.
The lyrics begin by speaking about a time when our sins were written in the "books of heaven" and how our name was at the top of the list. But, through seeking the keeper (likely referring to God), we can settle our accounts and find forgiveness. The singer then goes on to talk about how their account was "large and growing every day," but that they realized they needed to settle it to avoid "pain and woe."
The chorus repeats the idea that the Old Account was settled long ago, and that through the forgiveness of our sins, our record is clear. The final verse encourages others to seek the Lord and repent, knowing that if they do, they too will have settled their account and found peace.
Overall, "The Old Account Was Settled Long Ago" is a powerful statement about the power of forgiveness and redemption in our lives. It encourages us to seek forgiveness and find peace, knowing that our sins can be wiped away through our faith in God.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, there was a time on Earth when in the books of Heaven
Once upon a time, Earth and Heaven lived in harmony, but there was a period when there were unforgiven sins recorded in the heavenly books
That an Old Account was standin' for sins yet unforgiven
The book contained a long-standing record of sins that had not been forgiven
My name was at the top there were many things below
The record of sins had my name at the top, followed by many other sins below
But I went unto the keeper and I settled it long ago
I approached the keeper of the heavenly book and settled my account by seeking forgiveness long ago
Long ago, yes long ago (I settled it all)
I settled my sins long ago and no longer harbor any guilt or shame
I said the Old Account was settled long ago
I am declaring that I have already settled my old account with the keeper of the book of Heaven
And my record's clear today, he washed my sins away
My record in the book is now clean and clear from all my past sins because the keeper forgave and erased them all
And the Old Account was settled long ago (tell em about it)
I am reiterating that I have already settled my account long ago and I want others to know about it too
Well the Old Account was large and growing' everyday
My sins on the account were numerous and increasing with each passing day
I was always sinnin' and I never tried to pray
I was constantly committing sins without taking the time to pray for forgiveness
But when I looked ahead and saw such pain and woe
I realized the consequences of my actions and saw the pain and chaos ahead of me
Well I thought I'd better get it settled, so I settled it long ago
I decided that it was best to settle my account and seek forgiveness as soon as possible, which I did long ago
Now sinner seek the Lord, and repent of all your sins
I urge other sinners to seek the Lord and repent of their sins, just as I did
'Cause this He commanded if we're gonna make it in
God commanded us to repent if we want to enter Heaven
And then if you should live one hundred years below
Even if you live for a hundred years or more on Earth
You gonna know you got it settled 'cause you settled it long ago
You will know that your account has been settled in Heaven because you sought forgiveness and settled it long ago
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: F.M. GRAHAM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Tigrayforeverandever
Who is still watching on 2023?
@patriot4786
Me
@patriot4786
@@brianmcpherson7786 is
@patriot4786
@@brianmcpherson7786 is
@corneliadenninger5395
2024 still ok?
@kendrahogue3758
Still watching in March 2024
@60Cascade
Me too!
@jasonjones8768
Who is missing, yet still listening to Johnny Cash in 2020.?
@jbirdnelson3818
Me
@jasonjones8768
@@jbirdnelson3818
Me Allso
🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸