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.
Understand Your Man
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I won't even turn my head.
Don't sent your kinfolk to give me no talkin'
I'll be gone, like I said.
You'd just say the same old thing
That you be sayin' all along,
Just lay there in your bed and keep your mouth shut,
Don't give me that old familiar cry and fuss and moan
Understand your man, I'm tired of your bad-mouthin'
Understand your man.
You can give my other suit to the Salvation Army,
And everything else I leave behind
I ain't takin' nothin' that'll slow down my travelin'
While I'm untanglin' my mind.
I ain't gonna repeat
What I said any more
While I'm breathin' air that ain't been breathed before,
I'll be just as gone as the wild goose in winter
Then you'll understand your man, meditate on it
Understand your man, you hear me talking
Understand your man. Remember what I told you
Understand your man
Understand your man
The song "Understand Your Man" by Johnny Cash is a straightforward and honest message to a woman who is causing him frustration and stress in their relationship. The lyrics convey his desire to leave her, and his lack of interest in hearing any attempts to persuade him to stay. Cash is telling her that there is nothing she can say or do to change his mind, and that he needs to be alone to clear his head and sort out his thoughts.
The opening lines of the song reveal the level of dissatisfaction and annoyance that Cash feels towards this woman. He does not want her to call his name out the window or send her family to talk to him. He is determined to leave, and nothing she says or does will make him stay. Cash warns her not to give him any of the usual emotional outbursts, as it will not make a difference.
In the second verse, Cash highlights his detachment from material possessions. He is willing to leave all his belongings behind, even if they can be donated to charity. He does not want anything to slow him down as he travels, and he has the intention of untangling his mind. He emphasizes that he will not repeat himself, and that he is not interested in living a life that has already been lived. His existential approach to life creates a central theme of the song.
Overall, "Understand Your Man" is a song about a man who has had enough of a toxic relationship and wants to move on. Cash's straightforward and unapologetic approach to the lyrics makes it clear that this decision has been a long time coming. He is ready to cut his ties and embark on a new life journey.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't call my name out your window, I'm leavin'
I don't want you to cry out my name or try to stop me from leaving.
I won't even turn my head
I won't even look back as I'm leaving.
Don't sent your kinfolk to give me no talkin'
Don't send any of your family members to try to talk to me or convince me to stay.
I'll be gone, like I said.
I have made up my mind and I will be leaving as I said I would.
You'd just say the same old thing That you be sayin' all along, Just lay there in your bed and keep your mouth shut, Till I'm gone.
I don't want to hear any excuses or pleas, as you've said the same things before. Just stay quiet and let me leave.
Don't give me that old familiar cry and fuss and moan
Don't make the same old complaints and arguments that I've heard before.
Understand your man, I'm tired of your bad-mouthin'
You need to understand me and stop talking badly about me all the time.
You can give my other suit to the Salvation Army, And everything else I leave behind I ain't takin' nothin' that'll slow down my travelin' While I'm untanglin' my mind.
I don't care about my belongings and I'm leaving them behind to make my departure easier. I need to think and work through my thoughts without any distractions.
I ain't gonna repeat What I said any more
I won't keep repeating myself, I've made my decision clear.
While I'm breathin' air that ain't been breathed before, I'll be just as gone as the wild goose in winter
I'm leaving this past behind and I'm ready to start anew. I'll be gone as quickly as a wild goose migrates during winter.
Then you'll understand your man, meditate on it Understand your man, you hear me talking Understand your man. Remember what I told you Understand your man
Once I'm gone, take some time to think about what I've said and try to understand me better.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHNNY R. 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