Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash Kris Kristofferson Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Now Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two
Seemed to know just what to do
Invented the sound that hooked you and me
Added one to make the Tennessee Three
The Man In Black was long and lean
Hit the Billboard charts with a Teenage Queen
Had a television show, the best we'd seen
That chick-a-boom rock really made a splash
Missing ol' Johnny Cash

Well Johnny Cash was a friend of mine
Knew him well for a mighty long time
Shared the stage for many a show
Broke my heart to see him go
Cash had the fire of a thousand men
Lovin life was his greatest sin
Treated his fans like the next of kin
Rappin a bit, talkin trash
Missing ol' Johnny Cash

Well now Johnny Cash wore black attire
And he fell into that Ring of Fire
He came up swinging like a Boy Named Sue
And he married June Carter and he ? too
He wrote his songs from deep within
We hit the stage with a crooked grin
He and I were both Highwaymen
And that record became a smash
Well I'm missing ol' Johnny Cash

Johnny Cash never walked no line
Johnny Cash never did no time, but
When he sang a Folsom Prison Blues
You knew good and well he'd paid his dues
True, he always dressed in black
But he loved folks and they loved him back
Carried his pills in a brown paper sack
Well I don't care if they found his stash
I'm missin' old Johnny Cash

Now is it really true that him and Roy Nichols, Rose Maddox
Some people roasted hot dogs in the back of a limousine with ice cream sticks?
I don't know, I said they set the curtains on fire in an English hotel room
Just to warm their hands, well, Willie, do you know anything about Cash?

Well yeah, I know a lot of things about Cash
I'm not sure I should talk about it, but I checked with John, asked him if it's OK
He said he didn't give a shit
One time he took a casket up to his hotel room and got into it and called room service
I thought that was pretty funny

Now Cash had the fire of a thousand men
Lovin life was his greatest sin
Treated his fans like the next of kin




Rappin a bit, talkin trash
Missing ol' Johnny Cash

Overall Meaning

In the song "Missing Ol' Johnny Cash," Johnny Cash and his legacy are celebrated through the lyrics of the four country music icons - Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Waylon Jennings, and Willie Nelson. Each of the artists pays tribute to Cash, who was known as "The Man In Black." The song highlights Cash's contribution to the Nashville sound and the invention of the Tennessee Three. Johnny Cash was also known for his television show, which became a huge hit during its time. The song also references some of Cash's most famous hits, such as "Folsom Prison Blues" and "Ring of Fire." The lyrics suggest that Cash was a one-of-a-kind performer who could not be replaced.


According to the song, Johnny Cash was a friend to Kris Kristofferson, Waylon Jennings, and Willie Nelson, and they all shared the stage and performed together many times. The song suggests that Cash was a larger-than-life personality who had an impact on everyone he met. The lyrics reveal some interesting stories about Cash, such as the time he took a casket up to his hotel room and called room service. Johnny Cash was known for his ability to entertain and engage his fans, and he treated them like family.


"Missing Ol' Johnny Cash" is a tribute to Johnny Cash, who passed away in 2003. The song was recorded by Kristofferson, Jennings, and Nelson for their collaboration album, "The Highwayman" in 1987. The song highlights the enduring legacy of Johnny Cash and his contributions to the country music industry.


Line by Line Meaning

Now Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two
At the beginning of his career, Johnny Cash performed with the Tennessee Two and they knew how to create a unique sound that captivated audiences.


Seemed to know just what to do
They had a natural chemistry and understanding of each other's musical abilities.


Invented the sound that hooked you and me
Together, they created a distinctive sound that resonated with listeners and helped establish Cash as a music icon.


Added one to make the Tennessee Three
They eventually added another member to the band, becoming known as the Tennessee Three.


The Man In Black was long and lean
Cash was often referred to as the Man in Black due to his signature all-black attire, emphasizing his tall and lean stature.


Hit the Billboard charts with a Teenage Queen
One of his early songs, 'I Walk the Line,' became a chart-topping hit and cemented his place in the music industry.


Had a television show, the best we'd seen
Cash also had a television show called 'The Johnny Cash Show,' which was highly regarded and showcased his talents as both a musician and entertainer.


That chick-a-boom rock really made a splash
Cash's unique blend of country and rock music was a hit with audiences and helped shape the course of music history.


Missing ol' Johnny Cash
The artist misses Cash and his contributions to the music world.


Well Johnny Cash was a friend of mine
The artist had a personal relationship with Cash and considered him a friend.


Knew him well for a mighty long time
The singer had known Cash for a significant period of time and had a deep understanding of who he was as a person and musician.


Shared the stage for many a show
The artist and Cash performed together on many occasions.


Broke my heart to see him go
The passing of Cash was a sad and emotional event for the singer.


Cash had the fire of a thousand men
Cash had a passion and drive for life and music that was unmatched by many.


Lovin life was his greatest sin
Cash lived life to the fullest and didn't shy away from the many challenges and experiences it offered.


Treated his fans like the next of kin
Cash had a deep respect and appreciation for his fans and treated them like family.


Rappin a bit, talkin trash
Cash was known for his wit and humor, often incorporating it into his music and stage performances.


Well Johnny Cash wore black attire
Cash's signature all-black attire is a well-known characteristic of his image.


And he fell into that Ring of Fire
One of Cash's most popular songs was 'Ring of Fire,' which he co-wrote with his future wife, June Carter.


He came up swinging like a Boy Named Sue
Another one of Cash's iconic songs was 'A Boy Named Sue,' in which he sings about a boy who grows up tough due to his unique name.


And he married June Carter and he ? too
Cash and Carter fell in love and eventually got married, creating a partnership that lasted until their deaths.


He wrote his songs from deep within
Many of Cash's songs were deeply personal and reflected his own experiences and emotions.


We hit the stage with a crooked grin
The singer and Cash performed together as part of the supergroup The Highwaymen, and approached their performances with a sense of fun and adventure.


And that record became a smash
The Highwaymen's album was a huge success and further cemented Cash's place in music history.


Johnny Cash never walked no line
Despite his rebellious image, Cash conducted himself with honesty and integrity throughout his life.


Johnny Cash never did no time, but
Despite his rough exterior, Cash didn't have a criminal record.


When he sang a Folsom Prison Blues
One of Cash's most famous songs is 'Folsom Prison Blues,' which reflects on the experiences of those living behind bars.


You knew good and well he'd paid his dues
Cash had experienced suffering and hardship in his own life, and this experience added depth and authenticity to his music.


True, he always dressed in black
Cash's all-black attire was not just a fashion statement, but a reflection of his mood and attitude towards life.


But he loved folks and they loved him back
Despite his tough exterior, Cash had a genuine love and affection for his fans and was able to connect with them on a deep level.


Carried his pills in a brown paper sack
Cash was open about his struggles with addiction and would often carry his medication in a plain, unmarked bag.


Well I don't care if they found his stash
The artist doesn't care about the details of Cash's personal life and is more focused on remembering his contributions to music.


Now is it really true that him and Roy Nichols, Rose Maddox
The artist is questioning a rumor about Cash and two other musicians, Roy Nichols and Rose Maddox.


Some people roasted hot dogs in the back of a limousine with ice cream sticks?
Another rumor about the three musicians has been circulated, involving them cooking hot dogs in a limousine using ice cream sticks.


I don't know, I said they set the curtains on fire in an English hotel room
The singer is unsure of the accuracy of the rumors, but has heard another one involving the trio setting hotel curtains on fire in England.


Just to warm their hands, well, Willie, do you know anything about Cash?
The artist asks Willie Nelson if he has any personal stories or insight about Cash.


Well yeah, I know a lot of things about Cash
Willie Nelson is familiar with Cash and has information about him.


I'm not sure I should talk about it, but I checked with John, asked him if it's OK
Nelson is hesitant to reveal any personal details about Cash, but has cleared it with another person named John.


He said he didn't give a shit
John did not care if Nelson shared information about Cash.


One time he took a casket up to his hotel room and got into it and called room service
Nelson tells a humorous story about Cash, in which he took a hotel casket to his room and pretended to be dead when calling room service.


I thought that was pretty funny
Nelson finds the story amusing and shares his appreciation for Cash's humor and wit.


Missing ol' Johnny Cash
The singer still feels a deep sense of loss and longing for Cash, even after reminiscing about his life and legacy.




Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS

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
Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@AINGELPROJECT667

This one is for Orio Palmer, Batallion 7 Chief of FDNY.


I was a fire chief.
Into the Towers I did go.
And my fear I did not show,
We looked for survivors among the smoke and all the flames,
We refused to leave if someone still remained.
And there we stayed until the Towers fell to the ground.
But I am still around.


Rest in peace, Chief Palmer. You are remembered.



All comments from YouTube:

@WhatIsTheDill

I played this song for a few friends. None of them liked it. Clearly, I need new friends.

@bigjohonyas

Clearly

@Prod.Uisce1

Your friends should get cultured

@sangsanga9093

No just still stick with the same ones

@frederikgram8970

YES

@yoshihd2214

They re dumb...sry bro

594 More Replies...

@darrensmith8730

This song isn't long enough. A definite masterpiece.

@barbaraaly6186

It's beautiful

@bugcooper7441

simple and haunting

@thetom1487

Yes

More Comments

More Versions