He Ate Nails for Lunch and He Never Laughed
February 27, 2010 2:53 AM   Subscribe

Johnny Cash (who would've been 78 yesterday) performs on Sesame Street. Nasty Dan, Five Feet High and Rising, Don't Take Your Ones To Town, Tall Tale and also spoofed as Ronnie Trash. posted by at the crossroads (20 comments total) 25 users marked this as a favorite
 
Oscar the Grouch: Yeah, right on!
posted by bwg at 5:24 AM on February 27, 2010


I've never seen the Joaquin Phoenix movie, but something tells me that this was not reproduced in it, which is a shame.
posted by Countess Elena at 6:04 AM on February 27, 2010


Thank you! We play Johnny in the house a lot and the boys love him, but I don't remember seeing him on Sesame Street when I was a kid, so it dodn't occur to me to look for these. The boys will love them!
posted by njbradburn at 6:12 AM on February 27, 2010


Just watched those with my girls. Thanks.
posted by Alt F4 at 7:27 AM on February 27, 2010


The Muppet Wiki has a mighty list of guest stars, and Johnny Cash's page includes the bit of history from "a later appearance in which the entire cast and crew wore black in tribute to the singer's famous choice in wardrobe." Awesome.
posted by filthy light thief at 7:28 AM on February 27, 2010


I've found myself at the Muppet Wiki a few times and I am amazed at the dedication of fans to the Muppet Show. I would never have imagined that there was so much to write there.

(Also I learned that Rolf was the first Muppet, who was created by Jim Henson to be Jimmy Dean's sidekick on The Jimmy Dean Show. Apparently Rolf was more popular than the host!)
posted by Pope Guilty at 7:50 AM on February 27, 2010


...who would've been 78 yesterday...

the dust won't even go to dust
and the ash won't go to ash
we're all in Folsom Proson
but there ain't no Johnny Cash
posted by flapjax at midnite at 8:34 AM on February 27, 2010


Far out!
posted by Theta States at 8:43 AM on February 27, 2010


fwiw the last Cash album (American VI: Ain't No Grave) just came out recently, pretty much recorded in the span between June's death and Johnny's. A lot of songs (mostly spiritual-ish) about death, dying. Title track is pretty damn good.
posted by edgeways at 9:25 AM on February 27, 2010


So, did anybody else wear all black yesterday as a tribute?
posted by box at 9:32 AM on February 27, 2010


Those are charming.
posted by JanetLand at 11:12 AM on February 27, 2010


"Swan Song" was one of my favorite episodes of Columbo. Johnny Cash played a bad-guy gospel singer. He even sang a few times.
posted by morganannie at 11:24 AM on February 27, 2010


And I heard, as it were, the noise of Grouches: One of the four muppets saying: "Come and see." And I saw. And behold, a Big Bird.
posted by benzenedream at 11:30 AM on February 27, 2010 [2 favorites]


After watching the Johnny Cash / muppet videos, I stumbled upon a recently-uploaded string of videos from an old documentary starring Johnny Cash, "Ridin' the Rails." It's in 6 parts (the first five are about 10:00 each), and it traces the history of trains in the United States, interspersed with Cash singing train-related songs and with acted-out vignettes.

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6

It's really fun, and shows his love of trains. If you only watch one bit of it, check out the meeting at Promontory Point, at minute 6:15 on Part 2. The joy on Cash's face is electric.

Other songs include Casey Jones / The Wreck of Old 97, Tom Henry, The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, and a bunch more. (Sadly, no Folsom Prison Blues).

It's really a great set of videos.
posted by Alt F4 at 12:18 PM on February 27, 2010 [4 favorites]


This has been linked before, but: Johnny Cash and Miss Piggy singing "Jackson." Sadly, it's not the whole song and is part of a medley, but it's still great.
posted by asperity at 1:20 PM on February 27, 2010


WWJCD?
posted by BitterOldPunk at 2:13 PM on February 27, 2010


Sweet!
It's pretty obvious he's not really playing the guitar... is he lip-syncing though?
posted by hempgranola at 5:19 PM on February 27, 2010


@box, I wear all black every day as a tribute. Also, I like black.
posted by Hello Dad, I'm in Jail at 10:58 PM on February 27, 2010 [1 favorite]


Um. John Henry. Sorry.
posted by Alt F4 at 5:53 AM on February 28, 2010


Here's another link for "Five Feet High and Risin"
posted by at the crossroads at 3:09 AM on March 10, 2010


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