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.
September When It Comes
Rosanne Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A Savior in her dreams.
But she was not delivered then,
And the baby became me.
There's a light inside the darkened room,
A footstep on the stair.
A door that I forever close,
To leave those memories there.
So when the shadows link them,
Into an evening sun.
Well first there's summer, then I'll let you in.
September when it comes.
I plan to crawl outside these walls,
Close my eyes and see.
And fall into the heart and arms,
Of those who wait for me.
I cannot move a mountain now
I can no longer run.
I cannot be who I was then
In a way, I never was.
I watch the clouds go sailing
I watch the clock and sun.
Oh, I watch myself, depending on,
September when it comes.
So when the shadows link them,
And burn away the clouds.
They will fly me, like an angel,
To a place where I can rest.
When this begins, I'll let you know,
September when it comes.
The lyrics to Rosanne Cash's song September When It Comes are deeply nostalgic and reflective. The first verse of the song talks about the beginnings of life, and the symbolism of the cross above the baby's bed and the Savior in her dreams. The second line, “But she was not delivered then, And the baby became me,” suggests an unspoken tragedy, that Cash was the baby who was not delivered. She is using poetic language to describe her own birth and the idea that there was some absence of light or darkness in the room.
The second verse of the song shifts to the present, with the singer describing the light inside the darkened room, a footstep on the stairway, and a door that she forever closes to leave those memories behind. It's clear that the singer has a strong sense of loss, but rather than dwell on it, she focuses on moving forward, even acknowledging that she cannot move a mountain now or be who she was then. She watches the clouds go sailing and the clock and sun, emphasizing the passage of time.
The chorus of the song is infused with hope, suggesting that the singer plans to crawl outside the walls, close her eyes, and fall into the heart and arms of those who wait for her. She acknowledges that she cannot run anymore, but perhaps she can find peace and redemption in the embrace of others. The final line of the chorus, “So when the shadows link them, Into an evening sun. Well first there's summer, then I'll let you in. September when it comes,” is a bit enigmatic, but it seems to suggest that there is a time and place where things will be made right, and all will be revealed.
Overall, the lyrics to “September When It Comes” are deeply emotional and introspective, speaking to the human experience of loss and redemption.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a cross above the baby's bed,
There's a symbol of faith above the bed of the infant.
A Savior in her dreams.
The baby's mother dreams of a Savior who will protect her child.
But she was not delivered then,
However, the child was not saved at that time.
And the baby became me.
The child grew up to be the singer, Rosanne Cash.
There's a light inside the darkened room,
There's a ray of hope in the midst of darkness.
A footstep on the stair.
Someone is approaching the room.
A door that I forever close,
Rosanne Cash wants to forget painful memories by shutting the door on them.
To leave those memories there.
She wants to leave the past behind her where it belongs.
So when the shadows link them,
When the past and present converge.
Into an evening sun.
When the day comes to an end.
Well first there's summer, then I'll let you in.
Before sharing her pain, Rosanne Cash wants to first enjoy the good times.
September when it comes.
Rosanne Cash has decided to finally share her sorrow in September when it arrives.
I plan to crawl outside these walls,
Rosanne Cash wants to break free from the walls that hold her back.
Close my eyes and see.
She wants to reflect and meditate.
And fall into the heart and arms,
She wants to find comfort and love from others.
Of those who wait for me.
She knows there are people who love and care for her.
I cannot move a mountain now
Rosanne Cash has realized that she cannot conquer all obstacles.
I can no longer run.
She can no longer evade her problems.
I cannot be who I was then
Rosanne Cash has changed and grown since her past.
In a way, I never was.
She was never the person she wanted to be in the past.
I watch the clouds go sailing
She's observing the beauty of the world around her.
I watch the clock and sun.
She's keeping track of time.
Oh, I watch myself, depending on,
She's trying to understand herself in order to move forward.
September when it comes.
She has decided to use September as a time for reflection and healing.
So when the shadows link them,
When the darkness and light connect.
And burn away the clouds.
When hope and light emerge from the darkness.
They will fly me, like an angel,
She'll be lifted up and comforted.
To a place where I can rest.
She'll find peace and comfort.
When this begins, I'll let you know,
She'll let others know when the healing process has begun.
September when it comes.
This month holds a lot of symbolism for her and has become a time for healing.
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: JOHN LEVENTHAL, ROSANNE CASH, ROSEANNE CASH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jcook56050
My wife helped to treat Mr. Cash at Baptist Hospital during this last years. She is a licensed respiratory therapist. We still talk about the fact that this man was a real gentleman, and gave her what I would call the best compliment he could bestow (I won't quote it here in honor of the private moment, but coming from Johnny, it meant a lot). And, this man had one of the best set of lungs for a sick man she had ever seen. He's a legend, he was the consummate musician, and his art lives on.
@michaelbrickley2443
A true believer in Christ and an honorable man. Something we need more of in these troubled times. Too many loud voices on both sides of the political and faith divides. Quietly share Christ love and more will listen. Shalom. (Thanks for sharing that nice story)
@anthonyflynn9953
Thanks Jack, I love the man's music and hearing this personal side of him makes me appreciate him even more. Best to you and your wife
@ChefPlease
Was it Susie?
@jcook56050
no. @@ChefPlease
@alleebeeblue
I saw Rosanne in Eureka Springs Arkansas about a month after her dad had died. She started singing this song. When she got the part that Johnny sang, she lost her composure briefly. Her husband spoke to her away from the mike. The audience was very understanding. We embraced her in that moment.
@marcussullivan4743
Awesome story thank you
@jackimohney1606
A beautiful and poignant song crafted by two wonderful artists.
@jamesmueller8701
even before i turned 70 years old , this song could bring a tear to my eyes.. Now ,, too many friends are gone.. the kids are grown and grandkids live far away ... If it wasn't for internet i would never see them..Nobody stays "home" anymore...even my family is spread out all across America...
@dianejohnson5216
Poor Roseann, misses her Father , miss my father to