Johnny Cash

This post is a couple of days late because it was eight years ago on September 12, 2003, that the world lost one of it's greatest song-writers and musicians, Johnny Cash. I am a huge Cash fan, so much so, that I honestly do not understand why everyone else is not a fan. I've heard all the plausible reasons: I'm not a country music fan, or all of his songs sound the same, or whatever the case may be. But none of them are sufficient to me.

First of all I am not a country music fan myself. I can count easily on one hand how many country musicians that I listen to regularly, and Johnny Cash is definitely first on my list. (Brad Paisley is the only other one) And yes, I will concede that some of his songs have the same beat and sound, but I think that is part of the charm and allure of his music. And obviously not all of his songs sound the same, many have quite different sounds.

I think Johnny Cash may be the best story teller that I have ever heard. He has an ability to draw people in with his booming voice and accessible lyrics that speak to the reality of things. I was watching a show about him a few days ago, and in a black and white clip of him performing, I was sucked in. He had such a cool swagger to him as he performed that people went crazy for him.

I read a little story by June Carter Cash about how they fell in love, and she told a brief story about how she came to know who he was. Cash had only come out with a couple of songs and June was on tour with Elvis Presley among others, and Elvis was over in the corner playing his guitar. He was trying to play the song Cry, Cry, Cry by Cash. He was attempting to sing and play like him, but June did not yet know who he was. When she asked Presley what he was doing he told her he was trying to play like Cash. When she asked why, he said, "Haven't you seen him, he just stands there and sings and girls go crazy." So the king of rock n roll, tried to emulate Cash. Rightfully so in my opinion, I've never really been an Elvis fan.

Johnny Cash has never been the best guitar player, or had the fanciest band, but his songs tell some of the most inspiring, or depressing stories you'll ever hear. To me he is one of the very best of all time, and certainly an American treasure and icon.

I wrote a song several weeks ago trying to channel Johnny Cash, and I have no idea if I was really successful. I used the imagery of a train because it is one of the recurrent themes in Cash songs. The finished product I ended up titling, "Johnny Cash Meets Pilgrim's Progress." I want to post the lyrics to the song and I welcome any and all feedback. Of course some of the effect of the song lies in the music so keep that in mind.

There’s a train, out in the distance

I hear the faint sound if it’s whistle.

I’m at the station, looking down the tracks

To try and catch a glimpse, of the engine.

But all I see, are billows of smoke,

They’re the first sign of hope to me,

They’re the first sign of hope to me.

As the train continues it’s approach

I stop and think, what brought me to this point

I’ve spent a long long time on the road,

In search of love, and a hope not my own.

But I’ve been told, that hope is only found,

On the train I’m waiting for,

On the train I’m waiting for.

I have been anywhere you can think of

I’ve seen it all, and done most of that.

At every stop, I pick up something new

A brand new bag, to carry on my back.

But I’m so tired from the weight of these bags,

But the train is almost here,

But the train is almost here.

The train stops right in front of me

I stand amazed and frozen with fear,

The weight of my bags falls to the ground

And I have the hope that I’ve been looking for.

So I board the train, and never look back

And on to glory I ride!

With a train whistle victory cry!