#JohnnyCash – Tom MacInnes, Writer

The Top 500 Songs in Modern Music History…Song #137: Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash (RS)

This list of songs is inspired by lists published by radio station KEXP-FM from Seattle in 2010, as well as the latest poll taken in 2021 by Rolling Stone Magazine. For the most part I will faithfully countdown from their lists, starting at Song #500 and going until I reach Song #1. When you see the song title listed as something like: Song #XXX (KEXP)….it means that I am working off of the official KEXP list. Song XXX (RS) means the song is coming from the Rolling Stone list. If I post the song title as being: Song #xxx (KTOM), it means I have gone rogue and am inserting a song choice from my own personal list of tunes I really like. In any case, you are going to get to hear a great song and learn the story behind it. Finally, just so everyone is aware, I am not a music critic nor a musician. I am a music fan and an armchair storyteller. Here is the story behind today’s song. Enjoy.

RS: The Top 500 Songs in Modern Music History.

Song #137: Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash.

“Ring of Fire” is one of the songs that is most synonymous with the Man in Black, himself. Even as I type these words, the deep, dulcet tones of his voice are echoing in my mind as he sings,

“I fell in to a burning ring of fire.

I fell down, down, down

And the flames went higher.

And it burns, burns, burns,

that ring of fire, that ring of fire.”

But, here is the big thing to know about this song…..Johnny Cash did not write this song. However, the person who did write the song did so with Cash as the subject. The author of “Ring of Fire” was, none other than, a young, rising Country star-in-the-making named June Carter. “Ring of Fire” is a song about temptation and, in particular, about being tempted by something or someone that you are fairly certain will cause you heartache and pain. “Ring of Fire” was written four years before Johnny Cash married June Carter. At the time it was written, both Cash and Carter were with other people. But, the spark of their attraction toward each other had happened as they sang together at various concerts and events; he, with his band and she, with The Carter Family Singers. In addition, it was during these touring days that Johnny Cash was at his worst when it came to alcohol abuse. June Carter saw him show up drunk for performances. She witnessed him miss rehearsals all together. She saw his temper flare under the influence of the liquid fire that controlled him so. But still, to her, the pull of his essence was undeniable. If you watched the movie based on Cash’s life, “Walk the Line”, you will know that Cash was attracted to June Carter, too but, that she gave him an ultimatum that stated she would never become involved with him as long as he was married and as long as he abused alcohol. Eventually, Cash’s marriage fell apart and he approached Carter, anew, promising to be a better man. She, now free as well, accepted his oath and promised to help him to stay sober. When Johnny Cash, himself, tells the story of this moment, he readily declared that June Carter saved his life by agreeing to become his wife. They remained married for over forty years, until her death and then, his, shortly thereafter, in the early 2000s.

Let it be said that June Carter was just as respected as a performer as Johnny cash ever was. When Johnny Cash was just beginning his career, being able to perform on the same bill as The Carter Family was a high honour. In Country Music circles, The Carter Family were akin to music royalty and so, there was great risk to Johnny Cash’s career should he enter into a relationship with a Carter Family member and end up doing her wrong. June Carter had a fine career of her own both, as June Carter and then, as June Carter Cash. Over the course of her career, June Carter won five Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, as well as, the Christian Music Hall of Fame.

June Carter sang professionally from the age of ten; singing with her sisters, Helen and Anita, along with her mother, Maybelle and her father, Ezra Carter. Singing at events all over the Nashville area, June Carter and her sisters shared many a stage with all manner of the Country stars of the day. But, it was when she started appearing with Johnny Cash and his band, that the idea for “Ring of Fire” began to form in her mind. The inspiration for the phrase, “Ring of Fire” came from a line of poetry in a book that her uncle, A.P. Carter had laying around. That line read, “Love is like a burning ring of fire“. After the song was written, it was first recorded by June’s sister, Anita. Upon hearing Anita sing the song, Johnny Cash asked to record it later if her version did not sell well. As it turned out, Anita Carter’s attempt did not sell well so, Johnny Cash was given the chance to record the song. Just before doing so, Cash had a feverish, alcohol-fuelled dream in which he recorded “Ring of Fire”, not as a folk song (as it was at the time) but, with a full section of Mexican mariachi horns in the background. As unusual as this was, the horn embellishments helped to give, “Ring of Fire” a much peppier and distinctive air; making it stand out in a sea of twang-filled ditties that so populated the Country Music landscape at the time.

So, as much as “Ring of Fire” has come to be known as one of Johnny Cash’s signature songs, it has more to do with June Carter than with him. “Ring of Fire” is a song that chronicles love in the face of adversity, commitment in a time of addiction and denotes a chapter in the life of one of America’s greatest musical families: The Carters.

So, let those mariachi horns blare! Here is “Ring of Fire”, as written about the Man in Black by the woman, June Carter, who loved him despite it all. Enjoy.

The link to the video for the song, “Ring of Fire” by Johnny Cash, can be found here.

The link to the official website for Johnny Cash, can be found here.

The link to the official website for June Carter Cash, can be found here.

The link to the official website for The Carter Family Singers, can be found here.

The link to the official website for Rolling Stone magazine, can be found here.

The Top 500 Songs in Modern Music History…Song #223: I Walk the Line by Johnny Cash (RS)

RS: The Top 500 Songs in Modern Music History.

Song #223: I Walk the Line by Johnny Cash.

One of the very best ways to understand and appreciate the power that comes from the musical structure of this song is to watch the opening scene in the movie of Cash’s life that was released just over a decade ago called, “Walk the Line”. This movie starred Joaquin Phoenix as Cash and Reese Witherspoon as his wife, June Carter Cash. In this opening scene, Johnny Cash is about to give his famous concert from inside the walls of Folsom Prison. As the scene begins, all we hear in the “boom-chicka-boom” of the rhythm section of his band as they play the opening notes of “I Walk the Line”, over and over again, as they await the appearance of Cash on stage. While they play, the prisoners stomp their feet in time with the beats of the music. The combination creates a steady, pounding, thunderous beat, just like the pounding power of a steam locomotive engine as it chugs along. This “train-inspired” bit of structural underpinning came to be a signature of many of Johnny Cash’s songs.

“I Walk the Line” was the first single Johnny Cash ever released. He did so in 1956, which makes this song over 65 years old as you read these words. As we have discussed in a previous post about Cash (For the song, “The Man in Black”, which you can read here), Cash began his career as a gospel singer. He attempted to impress the folks at Sun Records (where Elvis was “discovered”) by auditioning with covers of Gospel classics only to be famously told, “to get some life experiences and come back when he had more interesting things to sing about”. As part of gaining this “life experiences”, Cash toured with Elvis and, as well, with Carl Perkins (who wrote “Blue Suede Shoes”). Newly married to a lady named Vivian Liberto, Johnny Cash found himself on the road, surrounded by more sexual temptation than he had ever dreamed of (due in large part to the throngs of girls who came out to see Elvis). Feeling tremendous pressure to remain faithful to “Miss Vivian”, Cash sat down one day and wrote an ode to fidelity that became known as “I Walk the Line”. There is real emotion contained within the lyrics to this song.

“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 ties that bind.

Because you’re mine,

I walk the line.”

It was these sort of “life experiences” that Colonel Tom Parker had insisted Cash get before his songs would be worthy of being recorded and released. Now that he was understanding more about how life as a singer would be, that wisdom came out in his lyrics. Consequently, Parker saw fit to let Cash record “I Walk the Line”, which became his first hit and one of his most famous songs of all-time.

The funny thing about this song is that, as we all know, Johnny Cash stayed faithful to his first wife for only so long. Once he encountered June Carter, of the famous singing Carter Family, he immediately saw how much better suited she was for him than was his non-musical first wife, Vivian. Cash’s growing relationship with June Carter served as the reason for “Miss Vivian” to seek an annulment of their marriage. After being granted a divorce, Johnny Cash married June Carter. Their marriage lasted until his death a few years ago. In a way, Cash lived up to his pledge written in “I Walk the Line”….it was just that it took marriage #2 for that to happen.

So, as you listen to the opening notes of “I Walk the Line”, take note of the power of the steam train-inspired rhythm section. As well, note how his life experiences informed the creation of the words he sings. Once you find your true love, these lyrics are definitely words to live by.

So, without further delay, here is the man in black, himself, Mr. Johnny Cash with his first hit, “I Walk the Line”. Enjoy.

The link to the video for the song, “I Walk the Line” by Johnny Cash, can be found here.

The link to the video for the opening scene in the movie, “I Walk the Line”, can be found here.

The official website for Johnny cash, can be found here.

The link to the official website for Rolling Stone Magazine, can be found here.

The Top 500 Songs in Modern Music History…Song #72: Hurt by Nine Inch Nails (+) Covered by Johnny Cash (KEXP)

KEXP: The Top 500 Songs in Modern Music History.

Song #72: Hurt by Nine Inch Nails (+) Covered by Johnny Cash.

In 2002, Johnny Cash was entering the final stages of his life. The idea was presented to him that he spend whatever time he had left making new albums; one of which was to be a tribute to other artists for whom he had respect. So, the album, “American IV: The Man Comes Around” came into fruition. The idea behind the album was that Cash was going to cover some songs that he felt spoke about him and his life, by artists/bands that he admired from afar throughout his life. One of the songs he asked permission to sing was called, “Hurt” by the Alternative band, Nine Inch Nails. In the musical canon of Alternative songs, “Hurt” held a place of honour. Long before Johnny Cash came to call, “Hurt” was revered as a moody, industrial-sounding alternative masterpiece. In fact, the overall sound of the song “Hurt” was so iconic that when Cash initially sought permission, the leader of Nine Inch Nails, Trent Reznor’s first reaction was to decline that permission because he was worried that the Johnny Cash version would have a novelty aspect to it and Reznor couldn’t stand the thought of that. But, one of the main stories behind the legend of this song is that of faith and trust. Somehow, the reputation of The Man in Black held enough sway that Reznor relented and gave Cash permission to use his signature song on his final album. As it turned out, that move helped create a cover song that rates as one of the best covers ever and, beyond that, the video shot for Cash’s version of “Hurt” is universally regarded as the best music video ever made.

One of the characteristics of a good cover song is that it honours the original song but that it also changes the song in a fundamental way so that it becomes something new and previously unimagined. In order to appreciate what Johnny Cash managed to accomplish, it is important to start with the original version of “Hurt” by Nine Inch Nails. The reason for this is that, to many people…even to this day…..the Nine Inch Nails version of “Hurt” is the definitive version of this song. The song was created as a promotional single for the band’s second album, “Downward Spiral”. This album was inspired by albums by David Bowie and Pink Floyd. Trent Reznor wanted to create an album that was seen through the eyes of a central character and was, especially, taken by Pink Floyd’s use of the character “Pink” in their album, “The Wall”. So, Trent Reznor created a character that, as it turned out, was based on himself and his life at the time. He recorded the album in a makeshift studio in the former home of actress, Sharon Tate who, as you may know, was one of Charles Manson’s victims. At the time, Reznor was abusing alcohol and drugs and was lapsing into a state of Depression. So, his song, “Hurt” describes what it is like to be struggling to find the value in living. As the opening lines of the song reveal, Reznor captured the mood of resignation and desperation very well:

“I hurt myself today

to see if I still feel.

I focus on the pain,

the only thing that’s real.

The needle tears a hole,

the old, familiar sting.

Try to kill it all away

But, I remember everything.”

In a world of accomplishment and accolades, what is their value if Life seems meaningless? That was the ground that Reznor was attempting to cover with “Hurt”. When Nine Inch Nails performed this song live, it would all be very theatrically done. Smoke would swirl, images would be projected on screen behind Reznor, he would fully immerse himself in the slow, note by note, syllable by syllable story as it unfolded and the audience would join him in exploring his pain. As big of a downer as it seems, most people recognized it as Art and not a celebration of addiction nor of mental illness. Consequently, the Nine Inch Nails version of “Hurt” went on to be regarded as one of the best Alternative songs ever made; its’ iconic status, unchallenged.

So, when a weak and dying legend, in the form of Johnny Cash, asked to sing this song, Reznor was not the only one who felt that it was more song than Cash could adequately handle. But, Cash swore to Reznor that he wouldn’t release the song unless he honoured it properly so, Reznor relented. In his life, Trent Reznor understood that redemptive aspect to hitting “rock bottom”, as it were, and then, having a rebirth because of the intervention of another who had their best interest at heart. For Cash, he has stated many times that, if not for June Carter agreeing to stay beside him in his wilder, early days, that he would have been dead long ago. For Reznor, who knew this story, he saw similarities because, when he reached his lowest point, he had someone step forward and offer him a lifeline. That person turned out to be someone who seems to have made a habit out of saving lost souls….it was David Bowie. Just after Nine Inch Nails released “Hurt”, Bowie swooped in and took Nine Inch Nails on tour with him. *(Just as he did for Iggy Pop, way back in the 1970s). Nine Inch Nails opened for Bowie on his tour. “Hurt” was the closing song in Nine Inch Nail’s set. Bowie took it upon himself to join Reznor on stage for this song which, then, became a duet. Because of Bowie’s intervention, Reznor entered rehab and became sober. He has remained sober ever since. Because of Reznor’s new outlook on life, he started moving away from being the leader of an active band to, instead, focus more on contributing to movie soundtracks. In fact, he recently won an Academy Award for his soundtrack to the movie, “The Social Network” which, you may know, was all about how Mark Zuckerberg started Facebook.

As for Johnny Cash, he did what all good cover artists do….he made “Hurt” his own. In Johnny Cash’s capable hands, “Hurt” transformed from a story of addiction and depression and changed into an autobiography of his life. Like all good cover artists, he, also, kept the core concept; of questioning the worth of awards and fame if, in the end, Death is all that awaits. However, while the song was well-received on its’ own merit, the real accomplishment for Cash rests on the music video that accompanied the song. The music video was directed by a man named Mark Romanek, who had already made videos with the likes of Jay-Z, Madonna, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Taylor Swift. Under Romanek’s direction, the music video for Johnny Cash’s version of “Hurt” shows Cash taking stock of his life. In the video, there are archival clips of a young, vital Cash, juxtaposed with images of a much frailer man surrounded by treasures and trophies, along with images of his Museum in ruins from a real-life flood. These images, when combined with a re-working of the musical structure of the song, added a sense of urgency to his story. It was almost as if he may run out of time before the song was over. The video is an examination of the worth of a man and the worth of how a man lives his life.

It is a masterpiece.

I remember first seeing this on the Country Music channel one day. When I first turned on the tv, it happened to be the two anchors of the afternoon show on CMT. They were both shaking their heads and talking about this video in a way that made me feel that there were shaken by it or, at the very least, changed by it. Then, they played it on tv and I got to see it for myself. I have to say that it changed me, too. It is unlike any music video I have ever seen. What a story it tells. God Bless Mr. Romanek for having the creative vision to make such wonderful Art. Thanks to Johnny Cash for having lived such a life and so willing bared it all in the end. Thanks, of course, to Trent Reznor for having created the foundation of it all with his own masterpiece if a song called, “Hurt” to begin with.

So, without further delay, here is one of the best Alternative music songs of all-time, “Hurt” by Nine Inch Nails. To follow, here is the music video that is universally-regarded as the best ever made….”Hurt” by Johnny Cash. As covers go, it doesn’t get much better than this. Enjoy.

The link to the video for the song, “Hurt” by Nine Inch Nails, can be found here.

The link to the official website for Nine Inch Nails, can be found here.

The link to the video for the song, “Hurt” by Johnny Cash, can be found here.

The link to the official website forJohnny Cash, can be found here.

Thanks, as always, to KEXP for playing the best music of all-time. The link to their wonderful website can be found here.

The Top 500 Songs in Modern Music History: Song #415…Man In Black by Johnny Cash (RS)

RS: The Top 500 Songs in Modern Music History.

Song #415: “Man in Black” by Johnny Cash.

Johnny Cash was The Man in Black.

There is so much to say about this legendary singer that I almost feel that I don’t need to say much of anything at all. But, what fun would that be? So here goes my shortened take on the life of one of the greatest musicians in all of music history, Mr. Johnny Cash.

Johnny Cash began his musical career at the same time as Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins at Sun Studios in Memphis, Tennessee under the controlling hand of Colonel Tom Parker. Initially, Cash was a gospel singer and auditioned for Parker by singing several gospel songs. Parker turned him away, famously telling him to come back once he had sinned and had more interesting material for his songs. Not to gloss over things but one of the most fundamental aspects of Cash’s life going forward was his battle with alcoholism, drug abuse and his run-ins with the Law. While never actually ending up in prison, Johnny Cash did serve time in several local jails…one night here, one night there….for intoxicated behaviour the resulted in property damage and/or injury to others.

A second fundamental aspect of his life and, one that is reflected in many of his song choices, was a railing against authority and a championing of people he considered to be underdogs in society. For example, he often wrote songs about Native Americans and the raw deal the US Government had dealt them. He was also famous for performing in prisons. Some of his most famous and successful albums of all time Live at San Quentin Prison and Live at Folsom Prison were recorded with an audience of hardened felons.

What helped Cash navigate his way through life were several important people who ended up taking on mentoring or guardianship roles. The most important of which was his second wife, June Carter. A bit of Canadian trivia regarding Johnny and June is that Johnny Cash proposed to June Carter on stage at the old London Gardens arena in London, Ontario. She only agreed to marry him if he dedicated himself to cleaning up his act when it came to drugs and alcohol. He promised he would and, while not always successful, he stayed as true to his word as he could because of his love for June. June Carter Cash died several months before Johnny did but, in one of her final conversations with him, she urged him to spend his final days recording anything and everything he could. One of the songs that arose out of his grief was his cover of the Nine Inch Nails song “Hurt” which is generally regarded as one of the best covers of all time. The video for this song (which is, essentially, the story of his life) earned him an MTV award for Music Video of the Year.

A second influential person in Cash’s life was fellow singer and Highwayman Waylon Jennings. Along with Kris Kirstofferson and Willie Nelson, Cash and Jennings formed a Country supergroup known as The Highwaymen. It was Jennings who started helping Johnny Cash maintain his health (they both had heart surgery at the same time, in the same hospital), as well as with some of his career choices later on in life. As we all know, it is the mark of a true friend when they don’t hesitate to offer honest advice, even if it isn’t what we want to hear. This was true of Jennings when he discouraged Johnny Cash from releasing a series of novelty songs that his record company was urging him to release in order to boost sagging record sales. Integrity matters. It did to Waylon Jennings and it did to Johnny Cash, too.

In a career that spanned nearly a half century, Johnny Cash sold millions of records and produced music that ranged from Country, to Blues, to Gospel, to Rock, to Traditional Roots musicians and so much more. He was a singer, an actor, a product spokesperson and a tv show host. He is one of the very few artists to be in The Country and Western Music Hall of Hall and The Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame at the same time. He was a singer who was as comfortable on the stage of The Grand Ol’ Opry as he was surrounded by murderers and rapists in the gymnasium of a Federal prison. He was a man’s-man who was loyal to his friends and faithful to his wife. Johnny Cash was The Man in Black. He says that he adopted his “look” because he felt it better reflected those people he sought to ally himself with (as opposed to the glittery outfits of singers such as Porter Wagoner). As you listen to the song “Man in Black”, you will get a terrific sense of the values Cash held and the people he felt needed his representation. As legends go, they don’t come much bigger than the Man in Black, Johnny Cash. Enjoy.

The link to the music video for “Man In Black” by Johnny Cash can be found here. ***The lyrics version can be found here.

The link to the music video for “Hurt” by Nine Inch Nails, (as covered by Johnny Cash) can be found here.

The official website for Johnny Cash can be found here.

Thanks, as always, to Rolling Stone Magazine for supporting good music in all of its forms and manifestations. A link to their great website can be found here.

***As always, all original content contained within this post remains the sole property of the author. No portion of this post shall be reblogged, copied or shared in any manner without the express written consent of the author. ©2021 http://www.tommacinneswriter.com