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.
Wreck of the Old 97
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Said, "Steve, you're way behind time,
"This is not 38, this is Ol'97,
"Put her into Spencer on time."
Then he turned around and said to his black, greasy fireman,
"Shovel on a little more coal.
And when we cross that White Oak mountain,
And then a telegram come from Washington station,
This is how it read,
"Oh that brave engineer that run '97,
"Is lyin' in Danville dead."
"Cause he was going down a grade making 90 miles an hour,
The whistle broke into a scream.
He was found in the wreck with his hand on the throttle,
Scalded to death by the steam."
One more time!
Oh, now all you ladies you better take a warning,
From this time on and learn.
Never speak harsh to your true-lovin' husband,
He may leave you and never return.
Poor Boy.
I want to thank you. Yeah, it's good to see you
The song "Wreck of the Old '97" is a ballad that tells a tragic story of a train engineer named Steve who met his untimely death when his train derailed and crashed. The song begins by setting the scene where Steve receives orders to speed up his train's schedule, despite being significantly behind. The orders were to get the train to its destination on time, and Steve is then identified as the hero of the story, someone who drove the train as quickly as he could. The next stanza describes how the train was moving so fast that its whistle broke into a scream, and it wasn't long before the train derailed, with Steve scalded to death as a consequence.
The final verse of the song serves as a warning for wives to treat their husbands with love and respect, for they may never return if they don't. The lyrics of "Wreck of the Old '97" show Cash's ability to conjure up a scene and vividly narrate its events while assigning blame, praising heroes and cautioning the listener. The song illustrates how the innate human love for speed, combined with adverse conditions, can lead to catastrophic events that can claim lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, they gave him his orders in Monroe, Virginian,
The train company informed the engineer, Steve, that he was running late and needed to make up for lost time. They instructed him to hurry the train to its final stop in Spencer, North Carolina, on schedule.
Said, "Steve, you're way behind time,
The company's message conveyed that Steve had fallen significantly behind schedule.
"This is not 38, this is Ol'97,
The company was not referring to Train 38, rather the renowned express train, The Old 97.
"Put her into Spencer on time."
The company urged Steve to speed up and arrive at Spencer precisely when scheduled.
Then he turned around and said to his black, greasy fireman,
Steve then communicated with his fireman, who was covered in soot and ash.
"Shovel on a little more coal.
He asked the fireman to add extra fuel to the furnace.
And when we cross that White Oak mountain,
Steve advised his fireman to prepare for a stretch of treacherous terrain in the upcoming path.
"Watch Ol'97 roll."
Steve directed the fireman's attention to the speed and power of the Old 97.
And then a telegram come from Washington station,
A message arrived from Washington station via telegraph.
This is how it read,
Steve received notification of the telegram's contents.
"Oh that brave engineer that run '97,
The telegram referred to the Engineer of the Old 97 as valiant.
"Is lyin' in Danville dead."
Unfortunately, the telegram reported that he had died in a train accident in Danville.
"Cause he was going down a grade making 90 miles an hour,
The cause of the fatal accident was attributed to speeding, as Steve failed to slow down while traveling downhill.
The whistle broke into a scream.
The loud noise of the train's whistle indicated that something was wrong.
He was found in the wreck with his hand on the throttle,
Steve's body was discovered in the crash site with his hand still on the controls.
Scalded to death by the steam."
He passed away due to steam burns.
One more time!
This line is a repeated chorus to emphasize the tragic story that has just been told.
Oh, now all you ladies you better take a warning,
The song transitions to a warning for women about the dangers of speaking harshly to their partners.
From this time on and learn.
The cautionary message is to take heed and avoid this sort of behavior.
Never speak harsh to your true-lovin' husband,
The story's lesson is to always treat your beloved partner with kindness and respect.
"He may leave you and never return."
The song concludes with the warning that if women speak harshly to their partners, their partner may leave and never come back.
Poor Boy.
This is the final lyric of the song, and it indicates that the song's storyteller pities Steve, the engineer who lost his life in the train accident.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: TOMMY COLLINS
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