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.
Why Me Lord
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What have I ever done
To deserve even one
Of the blessings I've known
Why me Lord
What did I ever do
That was worth love from you
And the kindness you've shown
Lord help me, Jesus
I've wasted it so
Help me, Jesus
I know what I am
Now that I know
That I've needed you so
Help me, Jesus
My soul's in your hand
Try me Lord
If you think there's a way
That I can repay
What I've taken from you
Maybe Lord
I can show someone else
What I've been through myself
On my way back to you
Lord help me, Jesus
I've wasted it so
Help me, Jesus
I know what I am
Now that I know
That I've needed you so
Help me, Jesus
My soul's in your hand
Jesus
My soul's in your hand
The song Why Me Lord by Johnny Cash is a reflective piece of music where the artist questions his own blessings and wonders what he has done to deserve them. He begins by asking the question "why me Lord," wondering what he did to get all the blessings he has received. He acknowledges that he has been lucky to have experienced kindness and love from the Lord, and questions what he has done to earn it.
The second verse shows Cash's humility as he acknowledges that he has wasted some of the blessings he's been given. He admits that he needs the help of the Lord, someone he has disappointed by wasting his blessings. He then goes on to plead with Jesus to help him, to take his soul in his hands, and guide him towards living a life that is worthy of the blessings he has received.
In the final verse, Cash asks God to try him if there is a way he can make amends for what he has taken from God. He makes a promise, that if given a chance, he will show someone else what he has been through, on his way back to God. The song represents a profound sense of gratitude mixed with guilt that Johnny Cash felt.
Line by Line Meaning
Why me Lord
I am grateful for all the blessings in my life and wonder how I, an unworthy individual, have been lucky enough to receive them.
What have I ever done
I am not deserving of such goodness and am curious as to why I have been granted it.
To deserve even one
I do not believe that I have done anything to earn these blessings.
Of the blessings I've known
I am acknowledging that I have been fortunate in my life.
What did I ever do
I still do not understand why I have been favored with love and kindness.
That was worth love from you
I do not feel that I have done anything that deserves the unconditional love you have shown me.
And the kindness you've shown
I am grateful for the acts of kindness and compassion that you have bestowed upon me.
Lord help me, Jesus
I am reaching out to you for guidance and support, Lord.
I've wasted it so
I have not used the gifts from you as wisely or appropriately as I could have.
Help me, Jesus
I implore you to guide me towards the right path.
I know what I am
I am aware of my flaws and shortcomings.
Now that I know
I have come to the realization that I need you desperately in my life.
That I've needed you so
I understand how much I need you and your guidance in my life.
My soul's in your hand
I trust you wholeheartedly with my soul and its ultimate fate.
Try me Lord
I am open to any trials or tests that you might have for me.
If you think there's a way
I trust that you know what is best for me and my life.
That I can repay
I am willing to make amends for anything I may have taken from you or others.
What I've taken from you
I recognize that I may have taken things from you or others without realizing it.
Maybe Lord
Perhaps through my experiences, I can help show someone else the way back to you.
I can show someone else
I may be able to use my past experiences to help guide someone else back to you and your love.
What I've been through myself
The struggles and challenges I have faced in the past may be beneficial to someone else on their own journey with you.
On my way back to you
I am committed to walking towards you and your love.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network
Written by: Kris Kristofferson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@DantasForasteiro
Why me Lord
What have I ever done
To deserve even one
Of the blessings I've known
Why me Lord
What did I ever do
That was worth love from you
And the kindness you've shown
Lord help me, Jesus
I've wasted it so
Help me, Jesus
I know what I am
Now that I know
That I've needed you so
Help me, Jesus
My soul's in your hand
Try me Lord
If you think there's a way
That I can repay
What I've taken from you
Maybe Lord
I can show someone else
What I've been through myself
On my way back to you
Lord help me, Jesus
I've wasted it so
Help me, Jesus
I know what I am
Now that I know
That I've needed you so
Help me, Jesus
My soul's in your hand
Jesus
My soul's in your hand
@phillpauley6672
Good Lord,
what have I done?
I just quit my job of just over 7 1/2 years.
You have already granted me a better job with full benefits but I hoped to work both long enough to pay off my $500 credit card debt and give them plenty of notice so they could prepare before I left.
I know they all saw it coming and I hope tonight wasn’t them trying to push me out to get it over with. They’ve all been helpful to me and I’ve helped them the same.
I’ve been super stressed since April because that job didn’t allow me to get a loan for a house and the managers (the owner’s daughters) are running the place into the ground.
I’ve been asking you for a while now what I should do or to please change my life somehow. I hope I’m following your plan because I’m seriously afraid! I’m not the fearful type. I’m shy and passive but that’s from too much solitude. You already know that though.
Dear Lord, please let me know if I made the right decision tonight.
I mean, I didn’t think of it then but I’ll get my last check from there in two days. I was so stressed on the way home trying to figure out how I was going to eat and put gas in the truck to get to the new job for the next two weeks and still pay all my bills. It wasn’t until I got home and tried to figure out a plan that I saw that I’m gonna be ok.
I keep hoping the stupidity that happened tonight was part of your plan and not just me being a jerk.
You’ve helped me for the past 35 years and you’ve always been the only one to help me grow so I trust and hope that you’ll continue.
I’m lost Lord!
I have no friends or family...
No one cares if I stay or leave.
Dear Lord, you are my only friend!
I truly appreciate everything you’ve taught me!
I only hope I’m doing right by you!
If I’m not PLEASE help me fix that!
Thank you Lord for what you’ve given me in life and the troubles you’ve taken away!
I’m fully grateful!!!
Even if sometimes I don’t show it at all... I’m truly sorry for that!
AMEN
@DantasForasteiro
Why me Lord
What have I ever done
To deserve even one
Of the blessings I've known
Why me Lord
What did I ever do
That was worth love from you
And the kindness you've shown
Lord help me, Jesus
I've wasted it so
Help me, Jesus
I know what I am
Now that I know
That I've needed you so
Help me, Jesus
My soul's in your hand
Try me Lord
If you think there's a way
That I can repay
What I've taken from you
Maybe Lord
I can show someone else
What I've been through myself
On my way back to you
Lord help me, Jesus
I've wasted it so
Help me, Jesus
I know what I am
Now that I know
That I've needed you so
Help me, Jesus
My soul's in your hand
Jesus
My soul's in your hand
Traduzir para o português
@hedgeearthridge6807
I love this song, in how it has a correct view of our depravity and God's Holiness and Mercy. God doesn't owe us anything, except death and judgment. And yet, He is so good to us. All glory to God
@barryduff5058
Amen to that!
@mikekoenig6467
Amen!
@tammiann7135
I read his book, watched his movie The gospel road, reading his son's book about his father. He struggled with demons in his life, but always had Jesus beside him. You are missed deeply Johnny and June.
@Laughy-Flaaffy
Wow, this is a beautiful song 😢
@brianmakwala
Zambian 💯
@elma.s4825
The beauty of what a man and a guitar is able to do, with the soul and playability he's the reason I have such a strong emotion to music.
@JackDaniel617
This song was written by a Vietnam Veteran!
@beproud7254
You're with Jesus now brother, love ya,see you soon.
@mikekoenig6467
I love you too brother. It's 6am in Phoenix, 9 days sober. 29 years old..since 16 I've "wasted it". But it's okay again it truly is. HALLELUJAH! ❤