Bob Dylan's Statement on Johnny Cash I was asked to give a statement on Johnny's passing and thought about writing a piece instead called "Cash Is King," because that is the way I really feel. In plain terms, Johnny was and is the North Star; you could guide your ship by him -- the greatest of the greats then and now. I first met him in '62 or '63 and saw him a lot in those years. Not so much recently, but in some kind of way he was with me more than people I see every day. There wasn't much music media in the early Sixties, and Sing Out! was the magazine covering all things folk in character. The editors had published a letter chastising me for the direction my music was going. Johnny wrote the magazine back an open letter telling the editors to shut up and let me sing, that I knew what I was doing. This was before I had ever met him, and the letter meant the world to me. I've kept the magazine to this day. Of course, I knew of him before he ever heard of me. In '55 or '56, "I Walk the Line" played all summer on the radio, and it was different than anything else you had ever heard. The record sounded like a voice from the middle of the earth. It was so powerful and moving. It was profound, and so was the tone of it, every line; deep and rich, awesome and mysterious all at once. "I Walk the Line" had a monumental presence and a certain type of majesty that was humbling. Even a simple line like "I find it very, very easy to be true" can take your measure. We can remember that and see how far we fall short of it. Johnny wrote thousands of lines like that. Truly he is what the land and country is all about, the heart and soul of it personified and what it means to be here; and he said it all in plain English. I think we can have recollections of him, but we can't define him any more than we can define a fountain of truth, light and beauty. If we want to know what it means to be mortal, we need look no further than the Man in Black. Blessed with a profound imagination, he used the gift to express all the various lost causes of the human soul. This is a miraculous and humbling thing. Listen to him, and he always brings you to your senses. He rises high above all, and he'll never die or be forgotten, even by persons not born yet -- especially those persons -- and that is forever. |
For me, John was one of those dudes who was always there in your consciousness from childhood (even though I didn't grow up with his music), like an iconic image - the perfect archetype. Dependable, uncorrupted. Personally, I don't own much of his output beyond the Sun years, but maybe it's time I started to. He was beyond cool - he just *was*. And they don't make 'em like that anymore. |
When I saw the 'Hurt' video, it was the first video that ever moved me. I used to watch his show when I was a kid.... didnt like country that much, but loved Johnny Cash. A real American Icon. 'American Recordings' was a wonderful surprise, and the reissue of his prison concert albums was really cool, with the between song dialog left in. Johnny Cash lived the life, kicked drugs and got saved when he married June. Merle Haggard decided to try to become a performer after Johnny Cash did a concert at the prison where he was doing time. He influenced uncounted artists and left his mark on American culture. Cdelplato- Ive got the Wall of Voodoo 12' 45 of 'Ring of Fire'.... really the most unusual tribute to the 'Man in Black'. (the Morricone Themes on the other side are strangely cool also) Mr Cash, thankyou for unexpected pleasure in my life... I trust you are with June now... |
I'm wearing all black today, hadn't thought about the two girls idea for Ridder though. Ring of Fire -- a song co-written by his wife, June Carter, and Merle Kilgore during the summer of 1964. For me it was the version done by Social Distortion that got me hooked. When I got into Johnny it was like I had found a lifelong friend to share the pain of life. When I heard his last album I knew he would be leaving us soon, the Cash 4 album is his goodbye. Its not really a great album, but in his passing listen to 'The man comes around', 'Hurt', and 'We'll meet again' and try and keep dry eyes. Thanks Johnny, your songs were always there for me. |
Johnny Cash was Country's Dylan. The Grateful Dead (Big River), The Band(Long Black Veil), Dylan, The Chieftans and so many greats have recorded his songs. A voice that was instantly recognizable. Gave one the feeling he knew firsthand the pain he sung about. I saw him live once at The Ritz in NYC. I'll be proud to tell it to my grandkids. Got a nice studio outtakes of Dylan w/ Johnny circa 1969 Nashville Skyline Sessions. E-mail me offline and I'll send a copy to the first five to respond. In memory of The Man in Black. |
I JUST found out about this, wasn't paying attention today. Sorry to hear this, and also about John Ritter. Johnny Cash was and is a legend. Noone like him. I think the most awesome tribute in my eyes was Wall Of Voodoo doing a bizarre but great version of "Ring Of Fire." Made me realize who Johnny was, and how great he was as I looked into his music more. Todd - chams_uk |
One of the true originals. He stripped music down to the very basics and spoke volumes in simple, plain English. His songs spoke to every man. Johnny was even nominated for several MTV awards this year, almost 5 decades after his first recordings. Thanks Johnny ! http://www.cmt.com/art/art.page/johnny.cash.jhtml |
| Post removed |
Johnny Cash was a man. He was a man who stumbled, made mistakes, and was real. He was still a great man. Heaven welcomes men like him, and I will miss him, for a while anyway. See ya, Johnny Walk the line... Johnny influenced a lot of great artists and he will continue to be heard for years to come. Thanks Johnny |
