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.
What On Earth
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Will you live the lowly heart about to break
Would you also give your cloak to one who took away your coat
What on earth will you do for heaven's sake
Would you feed the poor in spirit and befriend the persecuted
Will you show the bounds how all the chains can break
Did you sow the cropper seed will you walk among the weak
Did you turn the other cheek are you counted with the meek
Would you give a little more than you can take
Will you shine your little light on the children of the night
What on earth will you do for heaven's sake
Will you feed the poor
Johnny Cash's song "What On Earth" is a call to action for listeners to live a compassionate and selfless life. The lyrics ask if the listener is willing to go the extra mile, to turn someone's frown into a smile, or to befriend the persecuted. Cash asks if the listener has given their coat to someone who has taken their cloak, and if they have sowed the "cropper seed" and walked among the weak. Through these questions, Cash challenges the listener to examine their actions and consider what they are doing for the greater good.
In the chorus, Cash reiterates the theme of the song by asking, "What on earth will you do for heaven's sake?" The lyrics suggest that the listener's actions on earth have consequences beyond this life.
The song ends with a call to action, asking the listener to "feed the poor in spirit" and "shine your little light on the children of the night." Overall, the message of the song is to live a life of kindness and empathy, and to make a positive impact on those around us.
Line by Line Meaning
Will you walk another mile turn a frown with a smile
Are you willing to go out of your way to make someone's day better?
Will you live the lowly heart about to break
Are you willing to show compassion to those who are struggling?
Would you also give your cloak to one who took away your coat
Are you willing to give generously, even to those who may have wronged you?
What on earth will you do for heaven's sake
What will you do in this life to show mercy and compassion, as a reflection of your beliefs and values for the afterlife?
Would you feed the poor in spirit and befriend the persecuted
Are you willing to show kindness to those who are suffering, even if they are not physically hungry?
Will you show the bounds how all the chains can break
Are you willing to share hope and empower others to break free from their struggles?
Did you sow the cropper seed will you walk among the weak
Have you contributed to positive change in the world and are you willing to work alongside those who are vulnerable?
Did you turn the other cheek are you counted with the meek
Are you willing to respond to conflict with forgiveness and humility?
Would you give a little more than you can take
Are you willing to sacrificially give of yourself to benefit others?
Will you shine your little light on the children of the night
Are you willing to share hope and joy with those who are struggling with darkness and despair?
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JOHNNY R. CASH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
sam glick
good job johnnycash1fan1.