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.
Train of Love
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
People waiting at the station happy hearts a drumming
Trainman tell me maybe ain't you got my baby
Ever so often everybody's baby gets the urge to roam
But everybody's baby but mine's coming home
Now stop your whistle blowing 'cause I've got ways of knowing
Your bringing other people's lovers but my own keeps going
Ever so often everybody's baby gets the urge to roam
But everybody's baby but mine's coming home
Train of love now hasting sweet hearts standing waiting
Here and there and everywhere there gonna be embracing
Trainman tell me maybe ain't you got my baby
Ever so often everybody's baby gets the urge to roam
But everybody's baby but mine's coming home
Train of loves a leaving, leaving my heart grieving
But early and late I'll set and wait because I'm still believing
We'll walk away together though' I may wait forever
Ever so often everybody's baby gets the urge to roam
But everybody's baby but mine's coming home
Johnny Cash's Train of Love is a song about a man who is waiting for his girlfriend to return home on a train. He sees the train coming and hears the people at the station excitedly drumming their hearts. However, as the train arrives, he becomes anxious that his girlfriend may not be on the train. The trainman tells him that she may have gone off with another lover, but the man is still hopeful. The song conveys his anticipation and longing as he continues to wait for his lover to return home.
The lyrics convey several emotions of love and loss. The man is anxious and hopeful as he eagerly anticipates his lover's return. The lyrics suggest that he is willing to wait for her, even if it takes forever. The song's melody is catchy, and the lyrics are simple yet heartfelt, making it a classic country song. Cash's deep voice and the twang of the guitar give the song a sense of melancholy and longing, making it a perfect song for anyone missing their lover.
Line by Line Meaning
Train of love's a coming big black wheels a humming
The train of love is arriving with its big black wheels humming loudly
People waiting at the station happy hearts a drumming
The people at the station are eagerly waiting and their hearts beating with happiness
Trainman tell me maybe ain't you got my baby
The singer is asking the trainman if his lover is on the train
Ever so often everybody's baby gets the urge to roam
Occasionally, everyone feels the need to wander and explore
But everybody's baby but mine's coming home
Despite others' wanderlust, the singer's lover is returning home
Now stop your whistle blowing 'cause I've got ways of knowing
The singer asks the trainman to stop blowing the whistle because he knows who is on the train
Your bringing other people's lovers but my own keeps going
The train is bringing back other people's lovers, but the singer's lover is still away
Train of love this evening when she's not gone she's leaving
When the train of love arrives later, even though his lover is not gone yet, she will be leaving
Train of love now hasting sweet hearts standing waiting
The train of love is in a hurry, as sweethearts are standing and eagerly waiting
Here and there and everywhere there gonna be embracing
Everywhere, there will be lovers embracing each other when the train arrives
Train of loves a leaving, leaving my heart grieving
The train of love is leaving, and the singer's heart feels sad and mournful
But early and late I'll set and wait because I'm still believing
Despite the sadness, the singer will wait for his lover to return because he still believes they will reunite
We'll walk away together though' I may wait forever
The singer and his lover will leave together, even if he has to wait for her forever
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHNNY 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