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 (nΓ©e 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 ShyβDrager 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 ShyβDrager, 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 Ways of a Woman in Love
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And you never see a show
Friends drop by to pick you up
And you hardly ever go
It seems your head is in the clouds above
You've got the ways of a woman in love
I walk by your house at night
The guy who's got you in a spin
I wish that guy was me!
I don't know why it's you I'm dreaming of
You've got the ways of a woman in love
Many is the night
I've stayed awake and cried
Now you'll never know how much
You've hurt my foolish pride
I recall your kisses
The times I held you tight
Now when I come to see you
You're sitting in the light
Missing all the things that we dreamed of
You've got the ways of a woman in love
Many is the night
I've stayed awake and cried
Now you'll never know how much
You've hurt my foolish pride
I recall your kisses
The times I held you tight
Now when I come to see you
You're sitting in the light
Missing all the things that we dreamed of
You've got the ways of a woman in love
You've got the ways of a woman in love
In "The Ways of a Woman in Love," Johnny Cash sings about the longing and heartbreak of a man who is hopelessly in love with a woman who seems to be in love with someone else. The lyrics paint a picture of a woman who has lost interest in the things she used to enjoy, such as dancing and going to shows. She seems preoccupied with her own thoughts, and her head "is in the clouds above." Meanwhile, the singer is consumed with jealousy, hoping to catch a glimpse of the man who has captured her affections. He longs to be the one who makes her heart skip a beat, but he feels powerless and helpless in the face of her affection for someone else.
As the song progresses, the singer reflects on the pain he has endured as a result of his unrequited love. He has spent countless nights crying and trying to understand why he can't seem to let go of this woman. He remembers the kisses they shared and the moments they held each other close, but now when he tries to visit her, she is often sitting alone in the light, missing out on the life they had once dreamed of.
Overall, "The Ways of a Woman in Love" is a powerful portrayal of the ups and downs of romantic love. It speaks to the way that human emotions can leave us feeling vulnerable and exposed, even when we try to put on a brave face. The song captures the yearning, heartache, and deep sense of longing that accompanies unrequited love, making it a poignant and touching ballad.
Line by Line Meaning
You've cut out your dancing
You've stopped doing the things that make you happy
And you never see a show
You no longer enjoy entertainment or going out
Friends drop by to pick you up
Your friends are concerned about you
And you hardly ever go
You decline invitations and isolate yourself
It seems your head is in the clouds above
You're lost in thought and not present in reality
You've got the ways of a woman in love
Your behavior is similar to that of someone deeply in love
I walk by your house at night
I'm thinking about you constantly
In hope that I might see
I wish to catch a glimpse of the person who stole your heart
The guy who's got you in a spin
The person who has captivated your attention
I wish that guy was me!
I desire to be the one you're infatuated with
I don't know why it's you I'm dreaming of
I'm not sure why I'm so enamored with you
Many is the night
Countless times
I've stayed awake and cried
I have spent sleepless nights weeping
Now you'll never know how much
You're unaware of the pain you've caused me
You've hurt my foolish pride
You've damaged my self-respect
I recall your kisses
I remember the affection we shared
The times I held you tight
The moments we embraced each other
Now when I come to see you
When I visit you now
You're sitting in the light
You're in plain view, but I feel far away from you
Missing all the things that we dreamed of
Yearning for the future we imagined together
You've got the ways of a woman in love
You're still behaving like someone who is deeply in love
Lyrics Β© O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: CHARLIE RICH, WILLIAM E. JUSTIS JR.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
sauquoit13456
On this day in 1958 {September 7th} "The Ways of A Woman In Love" by Johnny Cash peaked at #2 {for 4 weeks} on Billboard's C&W Best Sellers in Stores chart, the four weeks it was at #2, the #1 record for those four weeks was "Bird Dog" b/w "Devoted To You" by the Everly Brothers...
And from the 'For What It's Worth' department, the C&W Top 10 Best- Selling Single records for September 7th, 1958 were:
#1. BIRD DOG/DEVOTED TO YOU by Everly Brothers
#2. THE WAYS OF A WOMAN IN LOVE by Johnny Cash
#3. BLUE BLUE DAY by Don Gibson
#4. SHE WAS ONLY SEVENTEEN by Marty Robbins
#5. BLUE BOY by Jim Reeves
#6. CITY LIGHTS by Ray Price
#7. GUESS THINGS HAPPEN THAT WAY by Johnny Cash
#8. ALONE WITH YOU by Faron Young
#9. POOR LITTLE FOOL by Ricky Nelson
#10. HARD HEADED WOMAN by Elvis Presley
Sadly, of all of the above artists only Don Everly is still with us, he will celebrate his 83rd birthday this coming February 1st, 2020...
Drew Beck
Thanks for posting this. One of the most underrated songs recorded by the great Johnny Cash.
arnold trogman
agreed.. and I know most all of them
Rear Derailleur Tutorials
Johnny's early Sun recordings are pure treasure! No doubt about it.
merc0049
A favorite Johnny Cash song of mine. I play this at my solo shows. RIP Johnny
Eddie Zwinge
This song from Johnny is truly underrated
Franz Bernasek
I dedicate this great song to my wife, who died in 2016, with great love
Jim Love
I heard him sing this one live on stage in1968 I was only 17 at the time. Btw, the Statler brothers backed him up. He was kidding Harold about being dead ' but no one has told him yet'. One of my favorites of Johnny C.
Henry Vaccaro Sr
My favorite Johnny Cash song when I first herd it in 1957 .Written by Charlie Rich.
David Chapa Music
Great song, Henry. Never knew Charlie Rich wrote it.
Eddie Zwinge
Most Underrated song from Johnny