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.
These things shall pass Start
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We'll look back and smile at heartaches we have known
So don't forget when shadows gather
The Lord our God is still the King upon his throne
A rose looks grey at midnight but the flame is just asleep
And steel is strong because it knew the hammer and white heat
These things shall pass and life be sweeter
When love and faith are strong they cannot long endure
The darkest time is just one hour before dawn
So hold up high and face your troubles
And don't despair if you must face them all alone
A rose looks grey at midnight...
(These things shall pass)
At first glance, Johnny Cash's song "These Things Shall Pass" appears to be a message of hope and comfort that everything will eventually work out. The lyrics discuss the inevitability of difficult times, but ultimately reassures the listener that it will get better. Cash uses metaphors such as a rose looking grey at night, but the flame is just sleeping, or steel being strong because it knows the hammer and white heat, to drive home his point that even the toughest situations will eventually let up. The religious element of the song is also important, as Cash reminds the listener that no matter what happens, God is still watching over everything.
However, the song takes on a deeper meaning when one considers the time period in which it was written. Johnny Cash was inspired to write this song during the height of the Cold War, when fears of nuclear war were at an all-time high. The song was released in 1961, just two years after the Cuban Missile Crisis, which brought the world to the brink of nuclear annihilation. In this context, "These Things Shall Pass" takes on a new level of poignancy. It is a message of hope that even in the face of total destruction, life will continue.
In essence, "These Things Shall Pass" is a song about resilience and perseverance. It's about finding comfort in the knowledge that even during the darkest of times, there is still hope for a better tomorrow.
Line by Line Meaning
These things shall pass and some great morning
Difficult times will not last forever and one day we will look back and smile.
We'll look back and smile at heartaches we have known
Our tough experiences will become a thing of the past that we can remember fondly.
So don't forget when shadows gather
During troubled times, remember to have faith and hope.
The Lord our God is still the King upon his throne
God is powerful and in control, even when we are facing challenges.
A rose looks grey at midnight but the flame is just asleep
Something that seems dull or lifeless can still have potential and a hidden beauty waiting to be revealed.
And steel is strong because it knew the hammer and white heat
Similar to individuals, hardship can make something stronger and more resilient.
These things shall pass and life be sweeter
After difficult times past, life will become more enjoyable and pleasant.
When love and faith are strong they cannot long endure
Love and faith are powerful forces that can help us overcome even the hardest of situations.
These things shall pass so don't you worry
Difficult things will pass and it's not worth worrying about in the long run.
The darkest time is just one hour before dawn
The hardest time is right before things get better, so keep holding on.
So hold up high and face your troubles
We need to face our difficulties with strength and confidence to overcome them.
And don't despair if you must face them all alone
Even when facing challenges alone, we can be strong and find our way through.
A rose looks grey at midnight...
Something that seems dark or hopeless can still have potential for beauty and growth.
(These things shall pass)
A reminder that difficult times are temporary and will eventually pass.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: STUART HAMBLEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bruno Bonomo
These things shall pass and some great morning
We'll look back and smile at heartaches we have known
So don't forget when shadows gather
The Lord our God is still the King upon his throne
A rose looks grey at midnight but the flame is just asleep
And steel is strong because it knew the hammer and white heat
These things shall pass and life be sweeter
When love and faith are strong they cannot long endure
These things shall pass so don't you worry
The darkest time is just one hour before dawn
So hold up high and face your troubles
And don't despair if you must face them all alone
A rose looks grey at midnight but the flame is just asleep
And steel is strong because it knew the hammer and white heat
These things shall pass and life be sweeter
When love and faith are strong they cannot long endure
Norm Sweet
Written by Stuart Hamblen and a great testimony to the power of God to forgive past sins and equip a sinner to serve Him and us
Curtis Shepherd
One of the Great Inspirational songs of all times,Johnny Cash does it so well,
Bruno Bonomo
These things shall pass and some great morning
We'll look back and smile at heartaches we have known
So don't forget when shadows gather
The Lord our God is still the King upon his throne
A rose looks grey at midnight but the flame is just asleep
And steel is strong because it knew the hammer and white heat
These things shall pass and life be sweeter
When love and faith are strong they cannot long endure
These things shall pass so don't you worry
The darkest time is just one hour before dawn
So hold up high and face your troubles
And don't despair if you must face them all alone
A rose looks grey at midnight but the flame is just asleep
And steel is strong because it knew the hammer and white heat
These things shall pass and life be sweeter
When love and faith are strong they cannot long endure
EmptyArenaViolin
Love this song.
mike stout
Amen..Glory!
Stephen Meyers
Love this song thanks for posting it
L R
thank God one day if we truly serve him these things shall pass.
Nashville Cash
God Bless Johnny 🙏
Austin Casey
Bill Kenny (Elvis' idol) made a really great record of this in 1952. Great tune and Johnny Cash sings it nice here.
Real Christian Music Channel & Exhortation
Amen! These things shall pass and all tears shall be wiped away. God is good...