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I was born in 1979. Johnny Cash existed in another generation, another universe. Johnny Cash had the distinctive voice and the solid profile, but if my generation recognized him, it was only for his legendary status. In "The Simspsons," Cash voiced a coyote in Homer Simpson's chili-pepper-enduced delusion ("El Viaje Misterioso de Nuestro Homer," 3F24, 1997). When I began to explore U2, I eventually discovered the haunting, eerie song "The Wanderer" with Cash on vocals. When I went to work for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association I saw a photo of Cash and Billy Graham featured prominently in the lobby.
My most intimate contact with Johnny Cash came in the year he died, with the video of his cover of the Nine Inch Nails song "Hurt." The song is dark and sad, the video uses haunting images of Cash's earlier years, and the aging and frailty of life smacks you in the face. "By the end I was really on the verge of tears," said Trent Reznor, writer of the song. "At the end of it, there was just dead silence. There was, like, this moist clearing of our throats and then, 'Uh, okay, let's get some coffee.'" The awkward silence that looms after seeing the video is something I experience myself, when half a dozen of my coworkers crowded around a single computer screen to watch. (Watch it for yourself: RealMedia or Quicktime) That is the impact of the Man in Black on my 24-year-old self. The more I hear about him, the more intrigued I am. His faith is incredibly deep, willing to explore the dark depths of the soul. He doesn't practice an easy, saccharine Christianity. He's an example that faith isn't always perfect, trials come and humans fail. But faith endures. Honestly, Johnny Cash has meant little in my life. But there are embers, threads of faith, glimmers of hope. Rather than chalk Cash up as another dead celebrity, I want to explore his life. Today I dug out the copy of Cash by Johnny Cash that I coincidentally scavenged from the free table when I worked at the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Rather than prattling on about a man I know very little about, I'd like to point the way to what others have said and are now saying, and what Johnny Cash himself said.
Johnny Cash Speaks : "I wore black
because I liked it. I still do, and wearing it still means something
to me. It's still my symbol of rebellion -- against a stagnant status
quo, against our hypocritical hosues of God, against people whose
minds are closed to others' ideas." "Oh, I expect
my life to end pretty soon. You know, I'm 71 years old. I have great
faith, though. I have unshakeable faith." "No, I don't
think so. But that's all right. There's no cure for life either."
- responding to Larry King's question if there was a cure for the
disease Cash was finally diagnosed with. "No, I'm
not bitter. Why should by bitter? I'm thrilled to death with life.
Life is -- the way God has given it to me was just a platter -- a
golden platter of life laid out there for me. It's been beautiful." "We love
to go to malls. And some of the stores, the big ones, have these little
electric cars, little electric wheelchairs. ... I'm dangerous on one
of those things. We go to these stores I'll jump in one and follow
June all day long in it. I love to shop." - talking about going
shopping with his wife, June Carter Cash, six months before her death. "Years ago I claimed
this Scripture [Romans 8:13, which says, 'For if you live according
to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to
death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.'] as my own promise,
and I feel there were many times a lifesaving situation was realized
by turning to this Scripture for counsel," "I used to [have
regrets]. But I forgave myself. When God forgave me, I figured I'd
better do it, too." "Ignore it. Do
what you do. You can't let people delegate to you what you should
do when it's coming from way in here [taps heart]. I wouldn't let
anybody influence me into thinking I was doing the wrong thing by
singing about death, hell and drugs. Cause I've always done that.
And I always will." - giving advice to rappers criticized for focusing
on death and violence. "It's all fleeting.
As fame is fleeing, so are all the trappings of fame fleeting. The
money, the clothes, the furniture." "I think it's
probably the best anti-drug song I ever heard." -on why he chose to
cover Nine Inch Nails' "Hurt" on his American
IV: The Man Comes Around album. "You have
to be what you are. Whatever you are, you gotta be it." "I'm an artist
who is a Christian. I'm not a Christian artist." What Others Have to Say: Snoop Dogg:
"Labels
try to make you say what they want or write the songs they think you
should write. Cash did his own thing." Merle Kilgore
(co-writer of "Ring of Fire" and best man at the wedding
of Johnny Cash and June Carter): "It's a sad day in Tennessee, but
a great day in heaven. 'The Man in Black' is now wearing white as
he joins his wife, June, in the angel band." Former President
Bill Clinton: "From
the heartland of America, Johnny Cash sang for the people who are
the heart of America." Moby:
"Given the depth and breadth of his influence and status it's
obvious that words can't even begin to describe the significance of
his passing. Suffice it to say that few people have been as powerful
and influential as Johnny Cash, and the world is a much poorer place
for his absence. At least he and June can be together again." Trent Reznor:
"To hear that Johnny was interested in doing my song was a defining
moment in my life's work. To hear the result really reminded me how
beautiful, touching and powerful music can be. The world has truly
lost one of the greats." Bono: "I
considered myself a friend, he considered me a fan -- he indulged
me. He showed me around his house, his ranch, his zoo (seriously,
he had a zoo in Nashville), his faith, his musicianship -- it was
a lot to take in. He was more than wise. In a garden full of weeds
--the oak tree." Chris Cornell
(Soundgarden/Audioslave front man): "Johnny Cash is what a
country like this needs, which is a soul. He is someone that is the
soul of America and in this day and age we really need more people
like him, though I don't think there's ever gonna be anybody like
him." Billy Graham:
"I've never met a man who combined spiritual depth, musical ability,
and international fame with such grace, charm, and humility as Johnny."
Metallica's
James Hetfield: "He's speaking for the broken people — people
who can't speak up or no one wants to hear." Sheryl Crow:
"He's always been who he is, there's never been any question,
he's never changed who he was for any kind of popularity. He's always
been the Man in Black." Pharrell Williams:
"I don't think there's a rap artist that has more songs about
killing somebody than Johnny Cash does." President George
W. Bush: "Johnny Cash was a music legend and American icon
whose career spanned decades and genres. His resonant voice and human
compassion reached the hearts and souls of generations, and he will
be missed. Laura joins me in sending our thoughts and prayers to his
family." More tributes: Remembering Johnny - RollingStone - Bob Dylan, Bono, Al Gore, Rick Rubin, Jerry Lee Lewis, Merle Haggard and more. Billy Graham Mourns Johnny Cash - ChristianityToday.com - A few brief paragraphs from Billy Graham himself. Nick Cave on Johnny Cash - The Guardian - London-based, Australian singer-songwriter Nick Cave reflects on his interactions with the Man in Black. Johnny Cash Remembered by Justin, Bono, Trent Reznor and others - MTV.com, September 12, 2003 - Collected reactions from across the music world. Johnny Cash: Original Gansta - MTV.com, August 2003 - Snoop Dogg, Jack White, Kid Rock, Trent Reznor, and more. Tributes to Johnny Cash - CNN.com, February 26, 2002 - Willie Nelson, Bono, Elvis Costello, Tom Petty, John Mellencamp, and more. Articles: The Testimony of Johnny Cash - Terry Mattingly on Religion - The spiritual side of Cash, focusing on his work at Billy Graham Crusades. Rick Rubin on Cash's Legacy - RollingStone - The producer of Cash's last four, career-redefining albums talks about working with Cash and the potential for posthumous releases. Hello, I'm Johnny Cash - The Guardian - The last interview with Johnny Cash. Alone with the Man in Black - The Guardian - An interview with Johnny Cash that turned into a one-on-one concert. The Man Comes Around - Beliefnet - The gospel and Johnny Cash, adopted from Spiritual Journeys: How Faith Has Influenced 12 Music Icons. The Man in Black - Time - Well-written overview of the life of Cash. Interview with Johnny Cash - "Larry King Live" - A November 2002 interview with Johnny Cash was reaired August 30, 2003. Johnny Cash and the Price of Darkness - Newsweek - An overview of Cash's darksided, compared with the wannabe men in black of today. For Cash, the Muse was Strong Until the End - Newsweek - A focus on Cash's determined work ethic. Heart and Soul of Country Music - Chicago Sun Times - Tribute to Cash, including sidebar about a phone conversation between Cash, Billy Graham, and Richard Nixon. Johnny Cash, 1932-2003 - Salon.com - A personal tribute to Cash, reflecting on his sense of social justice. (premium content: requires a subscription or watching a short commercial) Johnny Cash -- Live - Christian Reader - A 1981 excerpt on Cash's spiritual pilgrimage. 'Man in Black' Sings Ballads of the Bereft - The Washington Post - Overview of Cash's life including interesting details like Shel Silverstein wrote the song "A Boy Named Sue." Johnny Cash - The Guardian - Detailed obituary with more details about Cash's life, including a short-term stint as a factory worker in Pontiac, Michigan. The Man in Black Reaches the End of the Line - The Guardian - Overview of his life, including more quotes from Bono and details about some of the darker moments in Cash's life. Rickety, Aging Johnny Cash Struck Never with the Young and Angry - HeraldTribune.com - Covers the last decade of Cash's life, including his series of stripped-down American albums. Though drugs & alcohol had plagued him, Johnny Cash was steadied by his faith - BP News - Obituary and tribute, covering the life and faith of Cash. Johnny Cash: Original Gansta - MTV.com - Based on an interview with Cash a month before he died. 'Man in Black' Johnny Cash Dies at 71 - ABC News - An obituary covering the entire life of Cash, includes quotes from country music stars. 'Man in Black' Johnny Cash dead at 71 - CNN.com - An obituary covering the entire life of Cash. Goodbye - Entertainment Weekly - Short obituary covering his impact. Johnny Cash Approaches Judgment Day with Faith - Relevantmagazine.com - A review of Cash's last album, America IV: The Man Comes Around, and the spiritual themes in his life. Country Music Legend Johnny Cash Dies at 71 - NPR - Collection of previous interviews and reports, as well as a current tribute. Johnny Cash: 1932-2003 - Rolling Stone - Collection of archived features and news stories.
Misc.: The Bible by Johnny Cash - Thomas Nelson - Johnny Cash narrates the New Testament. How cool would that tape be? (Update: Thomas Nelson is re-releasing this audio-Bible remastered and on CD. Look for it in late October 2003) 10+ pages of Johnny Cash Collectables - eBay - This is the place to go for all things Cash, just don't forget the cash. Five Extraordinary Picks - The Guardian - Five classic Johnny Cash tracks you should own. Johnny Cash Album Covers - CNN.com - A pictoral overview of Cash's recordings. JohnnyCash.com - The official website. Johnny Cash Discography - JohnnyCash.com - Ridiculously long list of 140+ releases by Cash. (more coming) |
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