Ode to the Man in Black
Wendy Garrett
February 11, 2008
Never had a chance to meet the man but his words and voice left an unforgettable impression. My stepfather loved Johnny Cash. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Cash
I remember listening to Ring of Fire on the stereo...over and over...and insisting I was n-o-t a fan of country music nor would I ever listen to that stuff if I had a choice. I then blasted Zeppelin in my headphones to ring home my point. http://www.ledzeppelin.com/
Never is a hard word to back up, especially when your first "big" radio gig is for a country music station. Turns out, swearing I would never listen to any of those country artists my stepfather played ensured I knew who they were. And, if forced to admit, I did like more than a few.
Doing time on country radio, Johnny Cash once again caught my attention with a song called The Highwaymen, with Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson, and Willie Nelson. I learned he had a spiritual side.
Although rock was my music of choice, Johnny managed an occasional cameo; and whatever topic he delivered at the time, inadvertently called to focus a quiet truth in life.
Most recently, I salvaged a cd from the toss pile at a radio station (not the appropriate format to play the song) and admired once more his open, direct, common man approach. I listened to God´s Gonna Cut You Down.
The voice was thinner, but the gravely soul was still intact. Here indeed was a man in need of redemption; and this it appeared, might just be his final call. As such, his offering spoke volumes.
To be honest, I really liked this song sung by the Blind Boys of Alabama, http://www.blindboys.com/, but it seemed tailor made for Cash. The song lyrics are haunting, echoing long after the sound emanating from the recording has ceased but the ominous cadence sets the tone.
Johnny Cash...the Man in Black...out with a Bang --- Grammy Winner. Still stirring the pot and reminding me the best approach in life is to quit with proclaiming all of the I don´ts and step up to owning all of the I dos.
Best Short Form music video GRAMMY WINNER – Johnny Cash, God's Gonna Cut You Down, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1e0EQlQXoEo,from the album American V: A Hundred Highways available on Lost Highway Records.
http://main.losthighwayrecords.com/product.aspx?ob=disc&src=art&pid=1698
Sometimes, one can get lost in definitions and classifications. (Father/Stepfather) Rock, Soul, Country, Pop, etc., label makes little difference to the listener.
Music is the universal language life uses to illustrate a point; a lesson Johnny Cash and my stepfather had a hand in helping me to remember.
I remember listening to Ring of Fire on the stereo...over and over...and insisting I was n-o-t a fan of country music nor would I ever listen to that stuff if I had a choice. I then blasted Zeppelin in my headphones to ring home my point. http://www.ledzeppelin.com/
Never is a hard word to back up, especially when your first "big" radio gig is for a country music station. Turns out, swearing I would never listen to any of those country artists my stepfather played ensured I knew who they were. And, if forced to admit, I did like more than a few.
Doing time on country radio, Johnny Cash once again caught my attention with a song called The Highwaymen, with Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson, and Willie Nelson. I learned he had a spiritual side.
Although rock was my music of choice, Johnny managed an occasional cameo; and whatever topic he delivered at the time, inadvertently called to focus a quiet truth in life.
Most recently, I salvaged a cd from the toss pile at a radio station (not the appropriate format to play the song) and admired once more his open, direct, common man approach. I listened to God´s Gonna Cut You Down.
The voice was thinner, but the gravely soul was still intact. Here indeed was a man in need of redemption; and this it appeared, might just be his final call. As such, his offering spoke volumes.
To be honest, I really liked this song sung by the Blind Boys of Alabama, http://www.blindboys.com/, but it seemed tailor made for Cash. The song lyrics are haunting, echoing long after the sound emanating from the recording has ceased but the ominous cadence sets the tone.
Johnny Cash...the Man in Black...out with a Bang --- Grammy Winner. Still stirring the pot and reminding me the best approach in life is to quit with proclaiming all of the I don´ts and step up to owning all of the I dos.
Best Short Form music video GRAMMY WINNER – Johnny Cash, God's Gonna Cut You Down, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1e0EQlQXoEo,from the album American V: A Hundred Highways available on Lost Highway Records.
http://main.losthighwayrecords.com/product.aspx?ob=disc&src=art&pid=1698
Sometimes, one can get lost in definitions and classifications. (Father/Stepfather) Rock, Soul, Country, Pop, etc., label makes little difference to the listener.
Music is the universal language life uses to illustrate a point; a lesson Johnny Cash and my stepfather had a hand in helping me to remember.
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