Swan Song
February 26, 2014 5:58 PM Subscribe
How Johnny Cash was nearly killed by an ostrich in 1981. Surprise toy in the bottom of the box: "Folsom Prison Blues" covered by a band called Ostriches.
when I was just a baby
my mama told me son
gotta watch them big birds
an ostrich ain't no fun
but i messed with one who got me
ain't no ifs, ands, or buts
if it weren't for my old belt, y'all
he woulda spilled my guts
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:29 PM on February 26, 2014 [11 favorites]
my mama told me son
gotta watch them big birds
an ostrich ain't no fun
but i messed with one who got me
ain't no ifs, ands, or buts
if it weren't for my old belt, y'all
he woulda spilled my guts
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:29 PM on February 26, 2014 [11 favorites]
For some reason I have always remembered that episode of Columbo.
Me too! It was a great episode, and the only one I remember.
posted by LarryC at 6:52 PM on February 26, 2014
Me too! It was a great episode, and the only one I remember.
posted by LarryC at 6:52 PM on February 26, 2014
First time I've ever been disappointed to NOT see a link tagged (slyt)
posted by Lou Stuells at 6:55 PM on February 26, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Lou Stuells at 6:55 PM on February 26, 2014 [1 favorite]
'Ostrich attacks are rare in Tennessee'
That's what the TN tourism board would have you think.
posted by edgeways at 6:59 PM on February 26, 2014 [7 favorites]
That's what the TN tourism board would have you think.
posted by edgeways at 6:59 PM on February 26, 2014 [7 favorites]
There are people who haven't read Johnny Cash's autobiography? I don't want to know these people.
posted by entropicamericana at 7:15 PM on February 26, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by entropicamericana at 7:15 PM on February 26, 2014 [3 favorites]
Al Jourgensen has told a story on several occasions about hiding out with a Ministry roadie in an Amsterdam zoo, dosing on LSD, and then having to rescue the roadie when the roadie climbed a fence and tried to fornicate with a sleeping male ostrich.
I am -- is it disappointed or relieved? -- well, it's one or the other that this was not That Kind of Ostrich Story.
posted by delfin at 8:01 PM on February 26, 2014
I am -- is it disappointed or relieved? -- well, it's one or the other that this was not That Kind of Ostrich Story.
posted by delfin at 8:01 PM on February 26, 2014
There is a petting zoo right around the corner from where I live, and for the longest time local legend has had it that that they received custody of that same ostrich some time after the attack and had it for many years afterwards. No one in the area seemed to wonder why the vicious ostrich would be shipped halfway across the country and then put in a *children's petting zoo* of all places, it was just a statement that was accepted with a sage nod and a drink of beer. I can't find any evidence that this is based in reality at all.. is this a rumor that has cropped up around any other similar areas, or just some odd offhand remark someone once made that's been etched in the local mind ever since?
posted by FatherDagon at 8:19 PM on February 26, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by FatherDagon at 8:19 PM on February 26, 2014 [1 favorite]
wish john had written a song about that ostrich. A quiet song about that low down bird and the battle they had on that cold cold day. Because it was Johnny's land...
posted by Colonel Panic at 9:56 PM on February 26, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Colonel Panic at 9:56 PM on February 26, 2014 [1 favorite]
February 26 is the anniversary of Johnny Cash's birthday. Happy Birthday Man in Black!
posted by JohnnyGunn at 10:19 PM on February 26, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by JohnnyGunn at 10:19 PM on February 26, 2014 [1 favorite]
juiceCake: "I'm loving Jake Bugg's cover of Folsom Prison Blues."
Well I am too old to have known who Jake Bugg was before I listened and looked him up, but I do think he does a good job with the song.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 10:24 PM on February 26, 2014
Well I am too old to have known who Jake Bugg was before I listened and looked him up, but I do think he does a good job with the song.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 10:24 PM on February 26, 2014
His first appearance on Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman as gunslinger Kid Cole. Johnny and June Carter Cash appeared in at least three more episodes over five seasons of this show.
posted by Anitanola at 10:27 PM on February 26, 2014
posted by Anitanola at 10:27 PM on February 26, 2014
According to Wikipedia: "ostriches also employ a ‘selective brain warming’ mechanism in response to cooler surrounding temperatures". Hot headed ostrich.
posted by stbalbach at 10:49 PM on February 26, 2014
posted by stbalbach at 10:49 PM on February 26, 2014
So there I was, up and running, strung out, slowed down, sped up, turned around, hung on the hook, having a ball, living in hell……
And that is why you never pick a fight with an ostrich.
posted by bicyclefish at 12:43 AM on February 27, 2014
And that is why you never pick a fight with an ostrich.
posted by bicyclefish at 12:43 AM on February 27, 2014
For those who missed the Columbo episode, here is a synopsis. I remember it well, too. I find it interesting that in contrast to the "avuncular, family-friendly image" described in the article, Cash is a suspect in a murder (albeit a suspect that also happens to be a gospel singer with an avuncular, family friendly image.)
posted by TedW at 4:40 AM on February 27, 2014
posted by TedW at 4:40 AM on February 27, 2014
Holy crap! I didn't know ostricheseses were lethal like that.
To be fair, the guy had a legitimate beef.
posted by petebest at 5:10 AM on February 27, 2014
To be fair, the guy had a legitimate beef.
posted by petebest at 5:10 AM on February 27, 2014
I knew about this, but I didn't know that Cash swung at the ostrich first.
posted by JanetLand at 5:26 AM on February 27, 2014 [5 favorites]
posted by JanetLand at 5:26 AM on February 27, 2014 [5 favorites]
'Ostrich attacks are rare in Tennessee'
That's what the TN tourism board would have you think.
FTFY
posted by Naberius at 5:58 AM on February 27, 2014
That's what the TN tourism board would have you think.
FTFY
posted by Naberius at 5:58 AM on February 27, 2014
Well I am too old to have known who Jake Bugg was before I listened and looked him up, but I do think he does a good job with the song.
I'm 45 and when I saw him in concert there were a lot of young people but quite a lot of middle age to older people as well. I quite like his stuff and he does some great covers, which he usually performs during encores live.
His Needle and the Damage Done is quite good.
Speaking of ostriches. When I was a young lad I didn't know what an Emu was but I distinctly remember Rod Hull and I believed his puppet was an Ostrich, which it wasn't.
I also remember the Bionic Man series and Wonder Woman and as an adult I often wonder how the adults of that time could stand these shows.
posted by juiceCake at 9:21 AM on February 27, 2014
I'm 45 and when I saw him in concert there were a lot of young people but quite a lot of middle age to older people as well. I quite like his stuff and he does some great covers, which he usually performs during encores live.
His Needle and the Damage Done is quite good.
Speaking of ostriches. When I was a young lad I didn't know what an Emu was but I distinctly remember Rod Hull and I believed his puppet was an Ostrich, which it wasn't.
I also remember the Bionic Man series and Wonder Woman and as an adult I often wonder how the adults of that time could stand these shows.
posted by juiceCake at 9:21 AM on February 27, 2014
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I'm loving Jake Bugg's cover of Folsom Prison Blues.
posted by juiceCake at 6:13 PM on February 26, 2014 [1 favorite]