Review: Johnny Cash civil rights subtle support

Subject: Review: Johnny Cash civil rights subtle support
From: Felipa
Date: 16 Dec 21 - 07:35 AM

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2021/12/johnny-cash-politics-blood-sweat-and-tears.html

an in-depth analysis of the Johnny Cash album "Blood, Sweat and Tears", excerpted from Citizen Cash: The Political Life and Times of Johnny Cash by Michael Stewart Foley. Copyright © 2021

Subject: ADD: What Is Truth? (Johnny Cash)
From: Neil D
Date: 18 Dec 21 - 11:56 PM

Very interesting. One more example of Mr. Cash not fitting the stereotype of a redneck country singer. He hung out with Dylan, put Pete Seger on his TV show and was openly sympathetic to the plight of Native Americans.
One of my favorite stories about him is the time he was invited to play for Nixon at the White House, an invitation he accepted. Then he was sent word that Nixon had personally requested 2 songs, "Okie from Muskogee" and "Welfare Cadillac". Neither was a Johnny Cash song and the latter was a racist diatribe in verse. Needless to say, Johnny played neither. Instead, he sang an anti-war song he'd written called "What is Truth?", to Nixon, who later said that he had learned one thing about Johnny Cash: don't try to tell him what to play.


WHAT IS TRUTH?
(Johnny Cash)

The old man turned off the radio
Said, "Where did all of the old songs go
Kids sure play funny music these days
They play it in the strangest ways"
Said, "it looks to me like they've all gone wild
It was peaceful back when I was a child"
Well, man, could it be that the girls and boys
Are trying to be heard above your noise?
And the lonely voice of youth cries "What is truth?"

A little boy of three sittin' on the floor
Looks up and says, "Daddy, what is war?"
"Son, that's when people fight and die"
The little boy of three says "Daddy, why?"
A young man of seventeen in Sunday school
Being taught the golden rule
And by the time another year has gone around
It may be his turn to lay his life down
Can you blame the voice of youth for asking
"What is truth?"

A young man sittin' on the witness stand
The man with the book says "Raise your hand"
"Repeat after me, I solemnly swear"
The man looked down at his long hair
And although the young man solemnly swore
Nobody seems to hear anymore
And it didn't really matter if the truth was there
It was the cut of his clothes and the length of his hair
And the lonely voice of youth cries
"What is truth?"

The young girl dancing to the latest beat
Has found new ways to move her feet
The young man speaking in the city square
Is trying to tell somebody that he cares
Yeah, the ones that you're calling wild
Are going to be the leaders in a little while
This old world's wakin' to a new born day
And I solemnly swear that it'll be their way
You better help the voice of youth find
"What is truth?"

And the lonely voice of youth cries "What is truth?"


Songwriters: Cash John R

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3k_exJLYJQ

Subject: RE: Review: Johnny Cash civil rights subtle support
From: GUEST,Felipa
Date: 19 Dec 21 - 12:12 PM

excerpts of Johnny Cash live at the White House youtube

Thanks for the story and the lyrics, Neil D.

Subject: RE: Review: Johnny Cash civil rights subtle support
From: GUEST,Felipa
Date: 19 Dec 21 - 12:24 PM

comments on the video supposedly made at the White House suggest it is a video of a rehearsal, rather than of a performance

Subject: RE: Review: Johnny Cash civil rights subtle support
From: cnd
Date: 19 Dec 21 - 12:30 PM

What is Truth is a good one. I'm surprised more people don't realize Cash's political leanings. He was very much in favor of supporting the downtrodden and hurt -- hell, just listen to "Man In Black" and it's hard to miss.

Well, you wonder why I always dress in black
Why you never see bright colors on my back
And why does my appearance seem to have a somber tone
Well, there's a reason for the things that I have on

I wear the black for the poor and the beaten down
Livin' in the hopeless, hungry side of town
I wear it for the prisoner who is long paid for his crime
But is there because he's a victim of the times

I wear the black for those who've never read
Or listened to the words that Jesus said
About the road to happiness through love and charity
Why, you'd think He's talking straight to you and me

Well, we're doin' mighty fine, I do suppose
In our streak of lightnin' cars and fancy clothes
But just so we're reminded of the ones who are held back
Up front there ought to be a Man In Black

I wear it for the sick and lonely old
For the reckless ones whose bad trip left them cold
I wear the black in mournin' for the lives that could have been
Each week we lose a hundred fine young men

And I wear it for the thousands who have died
Believin' that the Lord was on their side
I wear it for another hundred thousand who have died
Believin' that we all were on their side

Well, there's things that never will be right I know
And things need changin' everywhere you go
But 'til we start to make a move to make a few things right
You'll never see me wear a suit of white

Ah, I'd love to wear a rainbow every day
And tell the world that everything's okay
But I'll try to carry off a little darkness on my back
'Til things are brighter, I'm the Man In Black