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 Papa Played the Dobro
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We didn't have a doctor cause he couldn't pay the fee
But when the goin' got too bad to ease his misery
Papa played the dobro this a way and he'd go
When company would come around he kept the dobro hid
[ dobro ]
He knew he couldn't play the way the other players did
Why the guitar's resonator was a gallon bucket lid
[ dobro ]
But papa played the dobro this a way and he'd go
Well now that papa's gone away it's hanging by the flue
The top of it's rusted and the strings're rusty too
It won't ever sound the way that it did when it was new
When papa played the dobro this a way and he'd go
[ dobro ]
"When Papa Played the Dobro" is a deeply personal and sentimental song by Johnny Cash about his own father, Ray Cash, and his love for playing the dobro. The song offers a glimpse into the difficult life of a poverty-stricken family during the Great Depression, but it also emphasizes the healing power of music during tough times. The first verse describes the tough circumstances of Cash's birth, as his father was a hobo who couldn't afford a doctor's fee. However, his father's love for playing the dobro helped alleviate his misery in difficult situations. The chorus is a joyous celebration of the passionate playing of the dobro and how it brought joy to Cash and others. The second verse describes an interesting detail about the guitar's resonator, which was made out of a gallon bucket lid, revealing the creativity and resourcefulness of Ray Cash in trying to make music during tough times. The final verse is a melancholic reflection on the passing of time, and how the dobro hanging over the fireplace will never sound the way it did when Ray was alive.
Line by Line Meaning
My papa was a hobo when they delivered me
I was born into a family struggling to get by, with my father living as a hobo.
We didn't have a doctor cause he couldn't pay the fee
Due to financial difficulties, we were unable to afford a doctor for my birth.
But when the goin' got too bad to ease his misery
When life became unbearable, my father turned to music.
Papa played the dobro this a way and he'd go
My father played the dobro in his unique style and it took him away from the harsh reality of our situation.
When company would come around he kept the dobro hid
My father didn't want to show his instrument to others as he knew it wasn't like the way everyone else played.
[ dobro ]
Instrumental bridge.
He knew he couldn't play the way the other players did
My father was aware that his playing style was different from others and he couldn't conform to their style.
Why the guitar's resonator was a gallon bucket lid
My father's dobro was made different as it had a resonator from a gallon bucket lid.
Well now that papa's gone away it's hanging by the flue
Now that my father has passed, his dobro is hanging idly by the fireplace.
The top of it's rusted and the strings're rusty too
The dobro has become rusty and old, and it will never sound the same as it did when my father played it.
It won't ever sound the way that it did when it was new
The dobro holds the memories of my father and his unique playing style, but it will never sound as good as it did when it was new and he played it.
When papa played the dobro this a way and he'd go
My father's unique dobro playing style allowed him to escape into another world and forget about the hardships of life.
[ dobro ]
Instrumental bridge.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Travis White
A precious gem which more need to hear. Some think they know Johnny Cash. They will learn more listening to this tune.
Feels Man
The Dobro was constructed by a Slovakian immigrant, the literal meaning of the name of this instrument is the noun "good"
hobby gamer
thanks
glencoe6305
Was Jack Clements the one playing the Dobro on here ?
Corey McMahon
Very possible, he played steel guitar and wrote produced a lot of Johnny’s songs, as well as others