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.
You're No Good
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
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
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
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"