Johnny Cash

September 12, 2003 3:17 AM

I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
I keep my eyes wide open all the time.
I keep the ends out for the tie that binds
Because you're mine, I walk the line.

RIP Johnny Cash. He died last night at 71.
posted by PrinceValium (9 comments total)

It was his time, no doubt, but it still stings to hear it.
posted by Space Coyote at 3:25 AM on September 12, 2003

RIP, Man in Black.. you will be missed.
posted by shadow45 at 4:18 AM on September 12, 2003

It was so sad to hear this or the news, waking up today.

That verse is sure appropriate.
posted by y2karl at 6:00 AM on September 12, 2003

Well, if they freed me from this prison, if that railroad train was mine,
I bet I'd move on over a little farther down the line,
Far from Folsom Prison, that's where I want to stay,
And I'd let that lonesome whistle blow my blues away.

An an unrelated note (from the above lyrics) among all the wonderful things he brought into the world, his collaboration with Bob Dylan. . .while I never liked the actual music much. . .it broadened both those worlds and changed popular music, if only a little.
posted by Danf at 7:47 AM on September 12, 2003

Thirty year old lyrics still apropos. . . and he still wore black on his dying day.

Man In Black
By: John R. Cash, © 1971 House of Cash, Inc.


Well, you wonder why I always dress in black,
Why you never see bright colors on my back,
And why does my appearance seem to have a somber tone.
Well, there's a reason for the things that I have on.

I wear the black for the poor and the beaten down,
Livin' in the hopeless, hungry side of town,
I wear it for the prisoner who has long paid for his crime,
But is there because he's a victim of the times.

I wear the black for those who never read,
Or listened to the words that Jesus said,
About the road to happiness through love and charity,
Why, you'd think He's talking straight to you and me.

Well, we're doin' mighty fine, I do suppose,
In our streak of lightnin' cars and fancy clothes,
But just so we're reminded of the ones who are held back,
Up front there ought 'a be a Man In Black.

I wear it for the sick and lonely old,
For the reckless ones whose bad trip left them cold,
I wear the black in mournin' for the lives that could have been,
Each week we lose a hundred fine young men.

And, I wear it for the thousands who have died,
Believen' that the Lord was on their side,
I wear it for another hundred thousand who have died,
Believen' that we all were on their side.

Well, there's things that never will be right I know,
And things need changin' everywhere you go,
But 'til we start to make a move to make a few things right,
You'll never see me wear a suit of white.

Ah, I'd love to wear a rainbow every day,
And tell the world that everything's OK,
But I'll try to carry off a little darkness on my back,
'Till things are brighter, I'm the Man In Black.
posted by ahimsakid at 7:56 AM on September 12, 2003

This needs more than 5 comments.

Rest in Peace.

I really felt saddened when I heard this a few minutes ago. I had a friend who was talking to Willie Nelson a few weeks ago. Willie said that Johnny was doing much better now - his wife's death was really hard on him and his health wasn't so good. I was excited to hear he was doing better. He was a great man.

(btw, ahimsakid, a punk band called "one bad pig" did a cover of the song, Johnny sang on the album w/ them. Kind of cool. Great song. )
posted by tomplus2 at 10:46 AM on September 12, 2003

I can see the mountains I can see the skies with 3 more minutes to go
And it's to dern pretty for a man that don't wanna die 2 more minutes to go
I can see the buzzards I can hear the crows 1 more minute to go
And now I'm swingin' and here I go-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o!

R.I.P.
posted by justgary at 11:53 AM on September 12, 2003

If you haven't seen the video of Cash singing NIN's Hurt, you owe it to yourself. It's heartbreaking and wonderful. More here on this handy self link.
posted by Nelson at 7:32 PM on September 12, 2003

Gotta quote one of the cheesiest songs of the '70s...

If you believe in Heaven,
You know they got a hell of a band...

And it got a good bit better this week...
(Imagines Zevon/Cash duet on... well, any song they wanna sing...)
posted by wendell at 11:59 PM on September 12, 2003