Why Johnny Cash is so great ...

[OVP]

Johnny Cash was a heroin addict, a superstar, a man who religiously campaigned against wrongful imprisonment until his death.He was the Man In Black. A Great man.

A couple of songs he released just before his death, give credence to my beliefs about this man.

This is my all time favourite Johnny Cash song. ITs a cover of a Nine Inch Nails song, called Hurt. But have a look at the film clip (he wasnt far from death when this was filmed) and tell me YOU are NOT moved by this man's life. Probably the most moving film clip of all time IMO.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vln5C8kholg

If you want the original, here it is

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtR2Q-edB_I
But a better version with David Bowie is here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7J3GMfFMjeY

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When he was campaigning for prisoners rights ... especially wrongful imprisonment (which he spent most of his life doing) he came across a particular song by Soundgarden, which said everything HE believed in. So he made a cover of it, just before his death, which imo is also a classic.

This is Johnny Cash's version of Rusty Cage by Soundgarden ... brilliant in itself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiJHeD2fE2c

Here is the original by Soundgarden ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHy5tFI05js

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Please make sure you realise these songs were recorded just before Mr Cash's death. He was a tough bugger, thats not even debatable, but it shows how up to speed he was with the world, even just before his death.

Yes, a Great Man.

 

[elyod138]

He also recorded a song which Glenn Danzig wrote for him. Danzig met cash and wrote the song in about 15 minutes and taught johnny how to play it. Danzig recorded it as well but I prefer Johnny's version.

Thirteen

Bad luck wind been blowin' on my back
I was born to bring trouble wherever I'm at
With the number '13' tattooed on my neck
That ink starts to itch
Black gon' turn to red

I was born in the soul of misery
And I never had me a name
They just give me a number when I was young

Got a long line of heartache
I carry it well
The list of lives I've broken
Reach from here to Hell
And a bad luck wind been blowin' on my back
Pray you don't look at me
And I pray I don't look back

I was born in the soul of misery
And I never had me a name
They just give me a number when I was young

Found me with a preacherman confessin' all I done
Catch me with the devil playing 21
And a bad luck wind been blowin' on my back
I was born to bring trouble wherever I'm at

I was born in the soul of misery
And I never had me a name
They just give me a number when I was young
When I was young
When I was young
When I was young

 

[OVP]

JC's version of Personal Jesus (The song is right, but wtf is doing with the clip ??)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1-dcS86Q0g

The Original version is here ... omg its Depeche Mode ffs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iW65i06a2qU

Another different version ... this time by Marilyn Manson ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yT27zS49Io

 

[newtownbluebags]

I've recently re-discovered Johnny Cash and find the story of his life fascinating!

 

[Phillips]

he wasnt so great.

ive got no time for junkies

 

[Steel Dragon]

he wasnt so great.

ive got no time for junkies

He was a reformed junkie - everyone deserves a second chance.

Cash was brilliant. You'd be hard pressed to find a decent rocker today that isnt slightly inspired by him and his work. He owes a fair bit to Rick Rubin for exposing the alternative music world to him. Rubin produced all Cash's AMERICAN recordings - which are among, if not the best of Cash's work.

 

[Rexxy]

think you'll find it was speed, not smack.

from wikipedia


Cash relapsed into addiction after a serious stomach injury in 1983 caused by a bizarre incident in which he was kicked and critically wounded by an ostrich he kept on his farm. He was administered painkillers as part of the recovery process, which led to a return to substance abuse

He was a reformed junkie - everyone deserves a second chance.

Cash was brilliant. You'd be hard pressed to find a decent rocker today that isnt slightly inspired by him and his work. He owes a fair bit to Rick Rubin for exposing the alternative music world to him. Rubin produced all Cash's AMERICAN recordings - which are among, if not the best of Cash's work.

 

[Jono078]

I've recently re-discovered Johnny Cash and find the story of his life fascinating!

Yeah, ever since watching Walk the Line, ive been interested in knowing more about his life..

And Hurt is a great song imo.

 

[Slappy]

he wasnt so great.

ive got no time for junkies

STOP THE PRESS!!!!

 

[LESStar58]

Johnny Cash was a heroin addict

Come again?

 

[newtownbluebags]

I hear the train a comin´
it´s rolling round the bend
and I ain´t seen the sunshine since I don´t know when,
I´m stuck in Folsom prison, and time keeps draggin´ on
but that train keeps a rollin´ on down to San Anton..
When I was just a baby my mama told me. Son,
always be a good boy, don´t ever play with guns.
But I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die
now every time I hear that whistle I hang my head and cry..

 

[OVP]

think you'll find it was speed, not smack.

from wikipedia


Cash relapsed into addiction after a serious stomach injury in 1983 caused by a bizarre incident in which he was kicked and critically wounded by an ostrich he kept on his farm. He was administered painkillers as part of the recovery process, which led to a return to substance abuse

Thankyou Rexxy, i stand corrected. However i do know he DID dabble in the odd bit of smack. Nevertheless its not my point ... the way he could adapt his music to modern times made him so great imo, as Steel Dragon explained far better than me.

 

[Steel Dragon]

Thankyou Rexxy, i stand corrected. However i do know he DID dabble in the odd bit of smack. Nevertheless its not my point ... the way he could adapt his music to modern times made him so great imo, as Steel Dragon explained far better than me.

I dunno if he so much adapted his music to modern times - as he did make modern songs more personable. The way Cash sings is with such genuiness and conviction, that he really makes the songs personal and believable - and in a way easier to relate to for the man on the street.

That was always Johnny's style. He sang working class songs for the working class.
They werent all "Cruisin' down sunset strip with the top down on my cadillac drinkin' 40's with a stripper under each arm' type lyrics many "artists" sing about nowdays.