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 Running Kind
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With leaving always on my mind
Home was never home to me
At anytime
Every front door found me hoping
I would find the back door open
There just had to be an exit for the running kind
Surrounding me alone
As real as any dungeon
With its wall of stone
I know running's not the answer
Though, running's been my nature
And a thing in me that keeps me moving on
I was born the running kind
With leaving always on my mind
Home was never home to me
At anytime
Every front door found me hoping
I would find the back door open
There just had to be an exit for the running kind
I was born the running kind
With leaving always on my mind
Home was never home to me
At anytime
Every front door found me hoping
I would find the back door open
There just had to be an exit for the running kind
In Johnny Cash's "The Running Kind," he speaks candidly about his wanderlust and desire to keep moving. Cash explains that he was "born the running kind," with leaving always on his mind, and he's never felt at home in any one place. He describes a feeling of being trapped, with a prison within him that's as real as any dungeon, surrounded by walls of stone. Still, Cash acknowledges that running isn't the answer, even though it's been his nature for so long. It's something that keeps him moving on.
One interpretation of these lyrics is that Cash is talking about his life on the road, constantly touring and performing. Another is that he's using the motif of running as a metaphor for something deeper, perhaps feelings of restlessness, dissatisfaction, or a fear of commitment. Regardless of interpretation, the song speaks to something that many people can relate to: the feeling of being trapped or restless, and the struggle to find a sense of home or belonging.
Line by Line Meaning
I was born the running kind
From birth, I was raised with a desire to constantly move and leave any place behind.
With leaving always on my mind
I always have a tendency to think about leaving a place behind and moving on to the next thing.
Home was never home to me
I've never felt truly comfortable or at home in any one place.
At anytime
This feeling has persisted throughout my life, no matter the circumstances or time period.
Every front door found me hoping
Whenever I arrive somewhere new, I'm always looking for a way out or a backdoor that will lead me away from that place.
I would find the back door open
I always hold out hope that there's a way to leave a place or situation, even when it seems impossible.
There just had to be an exit for the running kind
I have this innate belief that there is always a way out of any situation, even if it means leaving everything behind and starting anew.
Within me there's a prison
I feel trapped by my own desires and urges to constantly move and leave things behind, as if I have no control over them.
Surrounding me alone
This feeling of being trapped is isolating and makes me feel that I'm the only one who feels this way.
As real as any dungeon
This feeling is so overwhelming that it's like being imprisoned in a dungeon, completely unable to escape.
With its wall of stone
The feeling is so intense that it's like a physical barrier surrounding me and preventing me from being able to stay anywhere for long.
I know running's not the answer
Despite everything, I know that constantly leaving and moving on is not a sustainable or healthy solution to my problems.
Though, running's been my nature
Despite knowing that leaving is not the answer, I can't shake the feeling that it's my default response to any situation.
And a thing in me that keeps me moving on
This desire to run and leave things behind is so ingrained in me that it feels like a separate entity that is driving me forward.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MERLE HAGGARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
cheryl dewolf
I am in awe that Tom Petty & Johnny Cash had done all of these collaborations - WOW! My respect for these 2 artists/musicians seems endless...
steelyman08
Indeed! And then there was Tom with Dylan, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison, Roger McGuinn...... and the list goes on. Tom Petty was respected by so many giants of music. I imagine that he felt very honored and pleasantly surprised as a result of all of those collaborations. Dylan approached Petty, but many years before that Johhny Cash approached Bob Dylan!
Floyd Kiedis
Two of the greatest of all time
david hill
Priceless. Thank you both . YOU ROCK!!
Shannon Kringen
This is my new favorite song I've just listened to it about 10 times in a row I love this song it's so beautiful
Michelle Boutwell-Goodman
I think I’ve died and gone to heaven. I’ve never heard this before and it’s the most beautiful thing ever. These two...
Cornelia Denninger
Cash/Petty what a great
Collaboration and what a legacy they left. Geat great music!!! /CD
Rob Cotter
Petty Cash !! ❤
Anthony Bevilacqua
There's a strong TexMex feel in this that I never heard in Merle's original. Great.
Ben S Hammonds
damn I love this, new to me, love both Cash and Petty, but the song could be my theme song