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.
When He Reached Down
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was wretched and blind as could be
But my Savior in love gave me peace from above
When he reached down his hand for me
When the Savior reached down for me
When he reached down his hand for me
I was lost and undone without God or his Son
How my heart does rejoice when I hear his sweet voice
In a tempest to him I can cling
I can lean on his arm safe and sure from all harm
When he reaches down his hand for me
The lyrics of Johnny Cash's song "When He Reached Down" speak of a soul that is lost and astray from "the heavenly way." This soul is described as being both wretched and blind, indicating that they are in a state of despair and unable to find their way on their own. However, despite their condition, the soul is offered redemption and salvation through the grace of God.
The lyrics describe how the Savior reached down His hand and extended it to this lost soul, offering him peace from above. The song speaks of the transformative power of God's love and the way in which it can completely change a person's life. The chorus of the song repeats the message of the first verse, emphasizing the importance of this moment of salvation, and the sense of being lost and undone without God or His Son.
The final verse of the song speaks to the comfort that can be found in God's embrace. It acknowledges that life can be tumultuous and filled with struggles, but through faith in God, we can find peace and safety from harm. The imagery of leaning on God's arm is particularly powerful, suggesting a closeness and a level of trust that can be hard to find elsewhere.
Line by Line Meaning
Once my soul was astray from the heavenly way
There was a time when my soul had lost its direction and had strayed away from the path of righteousness and godliness.
I was wretched and blind as could be
During that time, I was living a miserable and hopeless life full of darkness, without any clarity or guidance.
But my Savior in love gave me peace from above
Luckily, my Saviour, who loved me deeply, bestowed upon me a sense of peace and tranquility that I couldn't obtain on my own.
When he reached down his hand for me
This loving gesture was shown when the Saviour reached out his hand towards me, as a sign of encouragement and support.
When the Savior reached down for me
When my Saviour showed his compassion towards me by reaching out, I felt a tremendous sense of comfort and relief.
I was lost and undone without God or his Son
Before that moment, I was completely without God or Jesus, and felt incredibly hopeless and helpless without their guidance or support.
How my heart does rejoice when I hear his sweet voice
Now, whenever I hear the loving words of my Saviour, my heart fills up with immense joy and gratitude.
In a tempest to him I can cling
When I'm struggling to face any kind of difficult situation, it's to my Saviour that I turn to for help and support, clinging onto his words and love.
I can lean on his arm safe and sure from all harm
Whenever I'm feeling vulnerable or unsafe, I know that I can always rely on my Saviour for protection, because he always has my back.
When he reaches down his hand for me
This metaphorical reaching out of the hand of the Saviour, to show his love and support, remains a constant source of comfort and strength for me throughout my life.
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
BeamsLeChuck
Surprised how few views this playlist has. Love Cash and old hymns.
Cecil Arinder
Mother is in Heaven and she and Johnny are singing this......
johnpaul steele
I love these songs.
kate_loves_Christ
Do Lord, remember me . . . I take Jesus Christ as my Savior -you take Him too -WHILE HE'S STILL CALLING you !!!!
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"Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures: And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures"
1 Cor.15:1- 4
Robert Newell
Revelation 21:4-6
King James Version
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.