You're No Good
Johnny Cash Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Come heed me, my brothers, come heed, one and all
Don't brag about standing or you'll surely fall
You're shining your light and shine it you should
But you're so heavenly minded, you're no earthly good

If you're holding heaven, then spread it around
There's hungry hands reaching up here from the ground
Move over and share the high ground where you stood
So heavenly minded, you're no earthly good

The gospel ain't gospel until it is spread
But how can you share it where you've got your head
There's hands that reach out for a hand if you would
So heavenly minded, you're no earthly good

If you're holding heaven, then spread it around
There's hungry hands reaching up here from the ground




Move over and share the high ground where you stood
So heavenly minded, you're no earthly good

Overall Meaning

In Johnny Cash's song "No Earthly Good", he warns his brothers about being too caught up in their own righteousness and failing to help those in need on earth. He implores listeners not to boast about their standing or they will surely fall. The singer encourages the spreading of their heavenly guidance by helping those in need here on earth. He argues that being "so heavenly minded" that one becomes "no earthly good" is counterproductive and unhelpful. Johnny Cash underscores the importance of spreading the gospel by calling on those who are currently holding on to it to "move over and share the high ground where you stood." This is a powerful song that reminds listeners of the need for balance between spiritual devotion and material outreach.


Line by Line Meaning

Come heed me, my brothers, come heed, one and all
Listen to me, my brothers, listen carefully.


Don't brag about standing or you'll surely fall
Don’t boast about your achievements because you might fail.


You're shining your light and shine it you should
You’re being a good person and you should continue to do so.


But you're so heavenly minded, you're no earthly good
Don’t be too focused on the spiritual that you forget to help others in the physical world.


If you're holding heaven, then spread it around
If you have found peace or happiness, then share it with others.


There's hungry hands reaching up here from the ground
People are in need and you should help them.


Move over and share the high ground where you stood
Don’t keep your blessings all to yourself, share them with others.


The gospel ain't gospel until it is spread
The message of love and goodness is meaningful only if it is shared with others.


But how can you share it where you've got your head
It’s difficult to help others if you’re only focused on yourself.


There's hands that reach out for a hand if you would
There are people who need help and you have the power to make a difference.


So heavenly minded, you're no earthly good
Don’t be so focused on the afterlife that you forget to do good in this life.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JOHNNY R. CASH

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

Rob P.

Best Female voice of them all in my opinion - And a classy lady too 👏❤️

fred bloggs

she was nothing short of perfect

LNL

Ms. Ronstadt and band...firing on all cylinders! Hope she inspired her audience to "straighten up and fly right."

Charles Horne

It is so hard.to comment on Linda, she is perfect in every way. Beauty inside and out, the voice of an angel, when she performs the audience becomes part of that performance and the only thing in the entire world that matters is Linda. She has become my friend, my mentor, my counselor, she has saved my life.

Huda Ahmed

Linda was the Trifecta- Incredible Beauty,Talent and Heart!!! holy smokes was she ALL that and then some!!!

Parengthony Castillo

God! I still love her version. I love the eagles though but this song was really meant for her.

Duane Gibson

Reading a book about her LR Rocks First Female Superstar. Great book! Learn so much about someone that I followed for so long and living in Tucson felt closer to and yet knew so little! She was a pioneer and record breaker for years.

Anthony Jacques

MY GOD MISS RONSTADT JUST KERPS ON PROVING THAT SHE IS THEE BEST OF ALL TIMES. NOBODY PAST OR PRESENT COMES CLOSE TO HER VOICE, TALENT, PRESENCE AN BEAUTY ALL MIXED IN ☝️ ONE!!

paul mc

I'd settle down a bit on that, ever heard of a lady called ANNIE WILSON?

Hot Sauce

Both Henley and Frey believe Linda sang "Desperado" better than they could. Frey credits Linda with making "Desperado" the Eagles signature song and Henley says Linda made it a classic. Whenever Linda appeared on stage w the Eagles she was the one who sang "Desperado".
Some people prefer the song writers version, some prefer Linda's version. The vast majority of song writers though prefer Linda's version. Even punk rocker Elvis Costello changed his opinion of Linda's version of his songs, "I was a punk back then"

More Comments

More Versions