Cash released her first single in 1979, a duet with Bobby Bare called "We Don't Need No Memories Hangin' 'Round". Two years later, she had her first country No. 1 (and the biggest commercial hit of her career), "Seven Year Ache". Although Cash was a prominent country star throughout the '80s, alongside fellow decade-defining artists Emmylou Harris, Juice Newton, and Dolly Parton, her music was anything but traditional: She topped the charts with songs written not only by herself, but by her father ("Tennessee Flat Top Box"), John Hiatt ("The Way We Make a Broken Heart"), Tom Petty ("Never Be You") and the Beatles ("I Don't Want to Spoil the Party"), "I Don't Know Why You Don't Want Me", which won her a Grammy in 1985, and "It's Such a Small World", a 1987 duet with Rodney Crowell on his album Diamonds & Dirt, provided further hits. A sampling of these songs and more are included on the compilation Hits 1979-1989. In 1979, she married Rodney Crowell, who was to produce most of her hit records. Their stormy marriage lasted until 1992; its break-up is chronicled in Cash's Interiors and in Crowell's album Life Is Messy. Cash later married John Leventhal, who produced her albums The Wheel, 10 Song Demo, Rules of Travel, and Black Cadillac.
To date, Cash has had more than twenty top 40 country singles, including eleven chart-toppers, but none since 1990, and she has left Nashville in both spirit and body to pursue her artistic vision. Although she had recorded all of her hits for Columbia Records' Nashville division, she released 10 Song Demo for the pop division of Capitol. Cash resurfaced in 2003 with Rules of Travel. The album features guest appearances by Sheryl Crow and Steve Earle, as well as a tune penned by Joe Henry and the Wallflowers' Jakob Dylan. Cash's latest album, entitled Black Cadillac, was released by Capitol Records in January 2006 to critical acclaim. Many of the songs were written by Cash and address the losses (within a 24-month span) of her step-mother, her father, her step-sister (Rosey Nix Adams) and then finally her mother on Cash's fiftieth birthday.
My Old Man
Rosanne Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He's young beyond his fears
But then the smile drops from his eyes
And we all wind up in tears
The old man's crying tonight
'Cause it all happened so fast
He's frightened by the future
So let him be who he wants to be
'Cause he ain't ever gonna be young again
And let him see who he needs to see
'Cause he never had too many friends
And ask him how he remembers me
'Cause I want to know where I stand
How I love my old man
The old man's restless tonight
Just trying to kill his pain
He believes what he says he believes
But that don't make him a saint
The old man's lonesome tonight
And he just wants to go home
All those fools who stand in his way
Why can't they leave him alone
So let him be who he wants to be
'Cause he ain't ever gonna be young again
And let him see who he needs to see
'Cause he never had too many friends
And ask how he remembers me
'Cause I want to know where I stand
How I love my old man
In the song "My Old Man," Rosanne Cash sings about the complexities of growing old and the experiences of her father. The old man initially appears to be happy and carefree, but his true feelings are revealed when his smile disappears and he breaks down crying. Cash sympathizes with her father's fears of the future and embarrassment about his past. The repetition of the phrase "let him be who he wants to be" emphasizes Cash's desire to let her father live his life on his own terms, even as he struggles with the challenges of aging.
The song also touches on the old man's attempts to cope with his pain and loneliness. He holds onto his beliefs, but it's clear that they don't provide all the answers he seeks. Cash acknowledges her father's desire to go home and his frustration with those who stand in his way. She ends the song by expressing her love for her old man and wanting to know where she stands with him.
Overall, "My Old Man" is a heartfelt tribute to the struggles of growing old and the importance of family relationships. Cash skillfully conveys the bittersweet emotions of watching a loved one age and the desire to let them live their life while still being there for them.
Line by Line Meaning
The old man is laughing tonight
The elderly man is content and happy at this moment.
He's young beyond his fears
He feels youthful as he is not worrying about anything.
But then the smile drops from his eyes
However, his happiness fades away and he becomes sad.
And we all wind up in tears
This brings everyone around him to tears as well.
The old man's crying tonight
The old man is upset and shedding tears tonight.
'Cause it all happened so fast
He is upset as he feels like time has passed by quickly.
He's frightened by the future
He is scared of what the future holds for him.
Embarrassed by the past
He is ashamed of his past actions and decisions.
So let him be who he wants to be
Allow him to live his life as he wishes.
'Cause he ain't ever gonna be young again
He will never be young again, so let him enjoy his life.
And let him see who he needs to see
Let him spend time with the people he wants to surround himself with.
'Cause he never had too many friends
He never had many friends, so it is important to let him have them now.
And ask him how he remembers me
Ask him how he thinks of me.
'Cause I want to know where I stand
It is important for me to understand my place in his life.
How I love my old man
I love and care for my elderly father deeply.
The old man's restless tonight
The elderly man is feeling uneasy and unable to rest.
Just trying to kill his pain
He is attempting to alleviate his discomfort.
He believes what he says he believes
He has convictions and stands by what he believes in.
But that don't make him a saint
However, this does not make him perfect.
The old man's lonesome tonight
The elderly man is feeling lonely and isolated tonight.
And he just wants to go home
All he desires is to return to his home.
All those fools who stand in his way
Those who hinder him are foolish.
Why can't they leave him alone
He wishes they would let him be.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: ROSANNE CASH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind