Johnny Cash Songs

Subject: JOHNNY CASH SONG'S
From: 53
Date: 25 Sep 01 - 01:18 PM

How many Mudcatters out there like Big River by Johnny Cash? It was one of the first Sun recordings in Memphis by the man in black. I think he's great. bob

[Many song titles in this thread have been converted to links by a Mudelf.]

Subject: RE: JOHNNY CASH SONG'S
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 25 Sep 01 - 01:30 PM

I don't remember the Sun version, but I love the song.

Subject: RE: JOHNNY CASH SONG'S
From: Gary T
Date: 25 Sep 01 - 01:47 PM

I'm quite fond of the early Cash stuff, like Big River, Understand Your Man, Ring of Fire, etc. I haven't heard much of his recent offerings, but from the little I've encountered, it appears he's still got it.

Subject: RE: JOHNNY CASH SONG'S
From: Fortunato
Date: 25 Sep 01 - 01:52 PM

53. I love the song and I still perform it. Oddly enough I heard the Ian and Sylvia cover of it first. Ian Tyson did a good job, but Johnny's had more authority. It works great with a western swing tempo. I also do Get Rhythm from that time. One of these days I'll work up Hey Porter, another favorite. cheers.

Subject: RE: JOHNNY CASH SONG'S
From: 53
Date: 25 Sep 01 - 02:20 PM

Fortunato, you're right up my alley. I love the one about the Cadillac car [One Piece at a Time?], but he's got so many great songs it's hard to name them all. I used to perform Folsom Prison Blues and I think that one is great too. bob

Subject: RE: JOHNNY CASH SONG'S
From: GUEST,DrWord
Date: 25 Sep 01 - 02:29 PM

Yep! Big River is a great tune! Grew up listening to Johnny Roy the barefoot boy. First LP I bought was "Ride This Train". Cheers.

Subject: RE: JOHNNY CASH SONG'S
From: SINSULL
Date: 25 Sep 01 - 02:32 PM

"Don't Take Your Guns to Town" is my favorite JC song.

Subject: RE: JOHNNY CASH SONG'S
From: GUEST,joe
Date: 25 Sep 01 - 02:35 PM

Did he actually write the Forty Shades of Green?

Subject: RE: JOHNNY CASH SONG'S
From: 53
Date: 25 Sep 01 - 02:37 PM

i have never heard that one. bob

Subject: RE: JOHNNY CASH SONG'S
From: Chip2447
Date: 25 Sep 01 - 04:31 PM

In today's trying times, the song "Ragged Old Flag" is the one I like to listen to...

Subject: RE: JOHNNY CASH SONG'S
From: Clifton53
Date: 25 Sep 01 - 04:41 PM

One of his newer ones, "Field of Diamonds (in the Sky)" has become a favorite of mine.

How many '53's' do we have here anyway?

Clifton53

Subject: RE: JOHNNY CASH SONG'S
From: Snuffy
Date: 25 Sep 01 - 04:48 PM

Most people assume Forty Shades of Green is an Irish song that's been around for ages.

But according to a book I have, "Forty Shades of Green, Words and music by Johnny Cash, Copyright 1961 by Southwind Music Inc, New York USA"

Wassail! V

Subject: RE: JOHNNY CASH SONGS
From: 53
Date: 25 Sep 01 - 06:47 PM

Well, Clifton53, I only know of 3 of us 53s. You, Bob and me - I'm Glenda, Bob's wife. But if there are more, let me know! Sometimes I write from work, sometimes from home.

I like Johnny Cash too. I'm struggling a bit learning to play with the Big River # because of the quick barre chord F# and straight to a B7, but I'll get there. (Tomorrow is my 6th month anniversary playing guitar.)

Glenda

Subject: RE: JOHNNY CASH SONGS
From: Clifton53
Date: 25 Sep 01 - 07:29 PM

Well, it's nice to meet both of you Glenda and Bob! Anyone who likes John R. Cash and the # 53 has to be alright!

Subject: RE: JOHNNY CASH SONGS
From: GUEST,Roger
Date: 25 Sep 01 - 07:38 PM

I've got my son almost word perfect on Folsom Prison Blues. He looks very serious as he sings "but I shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die...", being 5 he doesn't quite carry the believability of the original.

Subject: RE: JOHNNY CASH SONGS
From: 53
Date: 25 Sep 01 - 08:29 PM

Clifton, I must confess my "53" stands for the yr of my birth. It was a nickname Bob gave me many years ago when we worked together and were only friends. We got married 2 years ago.

Johnny Cash songs I like include Ring of Fire and Folsom Prison Blues but I am just starting to learn to play Ring of Fire. Folsom Prison Blues I've been trying to learn for a while.

Glenda

Subject: RE: JOHNNY CASH SONGS
From:
Date: 25 Sep 01 - 11:47 PM

He wrote those awesome song that pretty much sums up the Vietnam war, Drive On. mg

Subject: RE: JOHNNY CASH SONGS
From: Bert
Date: 26 Sep 01 - 05:40 AM

yup, I remember that one - GREAT. Here's a song you might like

Subject: RE: JOHNNY CASH SONGS
From: GUEST,Nick
Date: 26 Sep 01 - 06:13 AM

To Glenda in particular: re that "quick F# chord to the B7" - Cash himself plays that song with a capo on the 2nd fret, using D chord shapes... which makes it a "quick E chord leading to the A7"... and a LOT easier! Have fun Nick

Subject: RE: JOHNNY CASH SONGS
From: 53
Date: 26 Sep 01 - 06:24 AM

Nick, Thank you. I am aware of the way to make the song easier exactly as you said. Bob and I talked about that last night, in fact. But I am using this song to help me learn those chords, and it is working. So why stop now and leave the challenge? I play a lot of songs using the capo, but this, for me, needs to be a 'stretch' time. Does that makes sense to you?

Glenda

Subject: RE: JOHNNY CASH SONGS
From: 53
Date: 26 Sep 01 - 08:23 AM

how about Luther Perkins? he was Johnny's sideman and electric guitar player for a long time. His haunting type of playing was admired by many including Keith Richards and myself, his playing was on I Walk the Line, Big River, Folsom Prison Blues, and Ring of Fire just to mention a few, he was superb. bob

Subject: RE: JOHNNY CASH SONGS
From: 53
Date: 26 Sep 01 - 03:14 PM

Has anybody heard Ballad of a Teenage Queen? bob

Subject: RE: JOHNNY CASH SONGS
From: Bert
Date: 26 Sep 01 - 03:48 PM

Ballad of a Teenage Queen was great. It's surprising it isn't heard more, maybe it's a bit too goody-goody for rebellious teens.

Subject: RE: JOHNNY CASH SONGS
From: Aidan Crossey
Date: 26 Sep 01 - 04:37 PM

Delia's Gone and Let the Train Blow the Whistle (When I Go) from "American Recordings" ... two great snarling pieces of Cash genius.

Subject: RE: JOHNNY CASH SONGS
From: Clifton53
Date: 26 Sep 01 - 04:43 PM

Ah yes, "Tell the gossipers and liars, I will see them in Hell's fires...." I listened to that very tape today coming home from work. "Drive On" is also a favorite of mine, I am awed by the power in that 3 verse song.

Clifton

Subject: RE: JOHNNY CASH SONGS
From: RangerSteve
Date: 26 Sep 01 - 04:55 PM

I Still Miss Someone is one of those rare C&W songs that I can identify with. And it works great with clawhammer banjo. So does Ballad of a Teenage Queen - a perfect old-time stringband tune.

Since there are so many Cash fans here, can someone supply me with the lyrics for a song called "Run Softly Blue River"? I think one of the lines is something like "Roll on, you Blue River, my darling's asleep". It's definitely a Carter Family-influenced song.

Subject: RE: JOHNNY CASH SONGS
From: GUEST,Paddy(1)
Date: 26 Sep 01 - 04:56 PM

Can't believe this thread! - love it

Johnny Cash wrote Forty Shades of Green prior to (or during) a visit some years back. Someone changed the words to suit a girl singer ("so brawny and so brown" instead of "as soft as eiderdown" etc.)

No one mentioned Tennessee Flat-Top Box or Without Love (not to mention The Ballad of Ira Hayes).

Paddy(1)

Subject: RE: JOHNNY CASH SONGS
From: Clifton53
Date: 26 Sep 01 - 05:39 PM

Johnny Cash had a television show here in the states some years ago, when he was at his peak of popularity. I was a teen-ager and would stay home that night instead of going out with my friends. They never understood it!

He always had musical guests also, and not all mainstream country acts. I believe, though I can't recall fully, he had Bob Dylan on there.

I've always admired the way he has taken his own road.

Clifton

Subject: RE: JOHNNY CASH SONGS
From: Tiger
Date: 26 Sep 01 - 05:48 PM

Love to see the Cash fans come out - followed him since the mid-50's and do a lot of his songs.

Someday, hopefully many, many years from now, I'd like to do a Cash memorial show to show my appreciation.

Subject: RE: JOHNNY CASH SONGS
From: 53
Date: 26 Sep 01 - 06:15 PM

I like the album he recorded live at Folsom Prison, and the one he did at San Quentin the one that A Boy Named Sue came off of. bob

Subject: RE: JOHNNY CASH SONGS
From: kendall
Date: 26 Sep 01 - 07:11 PM

I've always liked JC. He is different. The first album I ever heard had such gems as Old Apache Squaw.
and..leave him there and let him die, I can't stand to hear him cry for water. (don't remember the name of this one) [Hank and Joe and Me]
Who's gonna cry when old John dies? Who's gonna cry when Old John dies? [The Caretaker] Does anyone remember this album? goes back to the '50s or very early 60's.

Subject: RE: JOHNNY CASH SONGS
From: catspaw49
Date: 26 Sep 01 - 07:59 PM

Now folks, before I say this, I like JC. As a matter of fact, when I lived in Nashville, we lived six houses down the road in a home built by one of the guys with Dr. Hook. We were the driveway where the tour buses turned and said, "No one of any importance lives here." In any case....

Ol' John has had some duds too, or at least some stuff that I much prefer by someone else. His rendition of "Lorena" is completely flat emotionally. He made a bit of a hit for Peter LaFarge's "The Ballad of Ira Hayes" that Paddy mentioned, but if you really want to hear that song, try Patrick Sky. Dylan fans may jump me here too, but the stuff on Dylan's "Nashville Skyline" like "Lay, Lady, Lay," really sucks wombat peckers. And that turn he and June did on the 30th Anniversary Dylan tribute was embarrassing. Johnny sang in one key, June sang harmony in a different key and the band was playing in a third key altogether.

That said, the series of albums he is doing now is beautiful in its simplicity and natural feel. Wonderful stuff!!

Spaw

Subject: RE: JOHNNY CASH SONGS
From: GUEST,Nick
Date: 27 Sep 01 - 08:16 AM

Glenda -

Sure, makes perfect sense to play songs in as many keys as possible as an exercise - not to mention if you end up in a band with someone who wants to (can only!) sing Big River in Ab... !!

I'm going to throw in here a gratuitous plug for the Highwaymen (Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson). They only made 3 albums (which is still one more than the Traveling Wilburys), but the third in particular (The Road Goes On Forever) is one of my favorite albums. And those four, before they ever got together as a band, were my primary musical influences for MANY years... Nick

Subject: RE: JOHNNY CASH SONGS
From: GUEST,Marc Bernier
Date: 27 Sep 01 - 08:41 AM

Would anyone know where I can find the words to Ragged Old Flag? That would be perfect for a gig I'm doing this weekend

Thanks Marc

Subject: Lyr Add: RAGGED OLD FLAG (Johnny Cash)
From: Tiger
Date: 27 Sep 01 - 10:29 AM

Here you are, Marc.

RAGGED OLD FLAG (A recitation, accompanied by music)
Words and music by Johnny Cash
As recorded by Johnny Cash on "Ragged Old Flag" (1974)

I walked through a county courthouse square,
On a park bench, an old man was sittin' there.

I said, "Your old courthouse is kinda run down."
He said, "Naw, it'll do for our little town."

I said, "Your ol' flagpole has leaned a little bit,
And that's a Ragged Old Flag you got hangin' on it."

He said, "Have a seat," and I sat down.
"Is this the first time you've been to our little town?"

I said, "I think it is." He said, "I don't like to brag,
But we're kinda proud of that Ragged Old Flag.

"You see, we got a little hole in that flag there
When Washington took it across the Delaware.

"And it got powder-burned the night Francis Scott Key
Sat watchin' it writin' 'Say Can You See,'

"And it got a bad rip in New Orleans
With Packingham and Jackson tuggin' at its seams.

"And it almost fell at the Alamo
Beside the Texas flag, but she waved on, though.

"She got cut with a sword at Chancellorsville
And she got cut again at Shiloh Hill.

"There was Robert E. Lee, Beauregard, and Bragg,
And the south wind blew hard on that Ragged Old Flag.

"On Flanders Field in World War One
She got a big hole from a Bertha gun.

"She turned blood red in World War Two.
She hung limp and low a time or two.

"She was in Korea and Vietnam.
She went where she was sent by her Uncle Sam.

"She waved from our ships upon the briny foam,
And now they've about quit wavin' her back here at home.

"In her own good land here she's been abused.
She's been burned, dishonored, denied, and refused.

"And the government for which she stands
Is scandalized throughout the land.

"And she's gettin' threadbare and wearin' thin,
But she's in good shape for the shape she's in.

"'Cause she's been through the fire before
And I believe she can take a whole lot more.

"So we raise her up every mornin', we take her down every night,
We don't let her touch the ground and we fold her up right.

"On second thought, I do like to brag,
'Cause I'm mighty proud of that Ragged Old Flag."

Subject: RE: JOHNNY CASH SONGS
From: kendall
Date: 27 Sep 01 - 12:37 PM

I dont know about anyone else, but, this gets to me!

Subject: RE: JOHNNY CASH SONGS
From: catspaw49
Date: 27 Sep 01 - 12:49 PM

Well Kendall, it gets to me.........

Spaw

Subject: RE: JOHNNY CASH SONGS
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 27 Sep 01 - 12:49 PM

The highway men were a true country super group. I saw them on Austin City Limits. They seemed to be so suited to each other that I suspect that one of the reasons they formed the group was that they could hang out together on the road.

Subject: RE: JOHNNY CASH SONGS
From: GUEST,Marc Bernier
Date: 27 Sep 01 - 02:09 PM

Thanks alot Tiger. This'll go over great.

Subject: RE: JOHNNY CASH SONGS
From: 53
Date: 28 Sep 01 - 09:09 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: JOHNNY CASH SONGS
From: marty D
Date: 29 Sep 01 - 12:56 AM

I LOVE Ballad of a Teenage Queen! It may be the corniest song I sing and I even do the background vocals to myself (dream on dream on Teenage Queen) but not at the same time!

marty

Subject: RE: JOHNNY CASH SONGS
From: Tiger
Date: 29 Sep 01 - 11:45 AM

Cute song, Marty.......

Written by "Cowboy Jack" Clement, who did production work for Townes Van Zandt and others.

Subject: RE: JOHNNY CASH SONGS
From: 53
Date: 29 Sep 01 - 10:10 PM

has anybody ever seen the movie inwhich johhny cash played a small town sheriff and that andy griffith played the bad guy, it was a great movie but i can't remember the name of the movie, help, bob

Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: FIELD OF DIAMONDS (Johnny Cash)
From: wysiwyg
Date: 17 Oct 03 - 11:46 PM

FIELD OF DIAMONDS
Words and music by Johnny Cash and Jack Wesley Routh
As recorded by Johnny Cash on "American III: Solitary Man" (2000)

  INTRO:  C
  
  VERSE:
         C                F       C
        FIELD OF DIAMONDS IN THE SKY
         C                    G      C
        WORLDS ARE WHIRLING RIGHT ON BY
         C                 F     C
        ARE YOU WONDERING WHO AM I
         C                G       C
        FIELD OF DIAMONDS IN THE SKY
  
  
  BREAK:
           Bb                      C
        AM I JUST A STAR IN SOME CROWN
                Bb                   C     D     G
        OR SOMEONE'S LIFE SUN GOING DOWN, DOWN, DOWN
  
  VERSE:
        FIELD OF DIAMONDS IN THE SKY
        SILENT BEAUTY SHINING HIGH
        ARE YOU TEARS THE ANGELS CRY
        FIELD OF DIAMONDS IN THE SKY
  
  INSTRUMENTAL:
        GUITAR 1 CAN PLAY THE CHORDS TO THE VERSE AND BREAK
  
        GUITAR 2 PLAYS THE FOLLOWING: (IMPROVISE A LITTLE)
  
        E ------------------------|-----------------------|
        B ------------------------|-----------------------|
        G ------------------------|-----------------------|
        D ------5-3-2-----2-------|------5-3-2-----2------|
        A --3-5-------3-5---5-3---|--3-5-------3-5---5-3--|
        E ------------------------|-----------------------|
  
        E ---------------------|-------------------------------|
        B ---------------------|-------------------------------|
        G ----3-3-3-3--5-3-5---|----3-3-3-3--5-3-4--4/7--7/12--|
        D ---------------------|-------------------------------|
        A --3------------------|--3----------------------------|
        E ---------------------|-------------------------------|
  
  VERSE:
        FIELD OF DIAMONDS IN THE SKY
        LIKE THE NIGHT YOU PASS ME BY
        I COULD TOUCH YOU IF I TRY
        FIELD OF DIAMONDS IN THE SKY
  
  BREAK:
        AM I JUST A STAR IN SOME CROWN
        OR SOMEONE'S LIFE SUN GOING DOWN, DOWN, DOWN
  
  VERSE:
        FIELD OF DIAMONDS IN THE SKY
        SILENT BEAUTY SHINING HIGH
        ARE YOU TEARS THE ANGELS CRY
        FIELD OF DIAMONDS IN THE SKY
  
  OUTRO:
        INSTRUMENTAL: PLAY THE CHORDS TO ONE VERSE AND FADE OUT.
  

  
  
  Source: Cowpie
  http://www.roughstock.com/cowpie/cowpie-songs/c/cash_johnny/field_of_diamonds.crd
  
  SH 




	

Subject: RE: JOHNNY CASH SONGS
From: GUEST,James
Date: 20 Oct 03 - 09:56 AM

I love Johnny Cash. Next in Line is one of my all-time favourites. Wasn't Big River originally released as the B side of Ballad of a Teenage Queen? And wasn't Get Rhythm the B side of I Walk the Line. I love his new stuff and his version of Cohen's Bird on a Wire is wonderful. I used to own the Ride This Train Album..is it available on CD?

Subject: Lyr Add: WINGS IN THE MORNING (Johnny Cash)
From: wysiwyg
Date: 20 Oct 03 - 10:03 AM

You can hear it at RECORD LADY, using the artist and song indexes to find and download the sound file. And please, support the Record Lady site if you can!

~Susan

=======================================================

WINGS IN THE MORNING
Words and music by Johnny Cash
As recorded by Johnny Cash on "Bootleg Vol. VI: The Soul of Truth" (2012)

CHORUS: Wings in the mornin' and license to fly
Straight to the portals of nevermore-die.
Nevermore pain in them old achin' bones.
Wings in the mornin' to carry us home.

My grandfather lived by the book all his life
On rich bottomland with twelve kids and a wife.
He never saw TV nor rode a jet plane,
But he knew that heaven was holdin' his claim. CHORUS

The salt of the earth, yet with faith in the Lord,
They all got together in that one accord,
And what could be greater than God's guarantee
That we can have heaven for eternity? CHORUS

Rocks in the road and we stumble and fall;
Light's gettin' low so we don't see at all!
But I promise you, on that gettin'-up day,
Wings in the mornin' and we'll fly away. CHORUS


SH

Subject: Lyr Add: RUN SOFTLY BLUE RIVER (Johnny Cash)
From: GUEST,Gene
Date: 20 Oct 03 - 11:14 AM

RUN SOFTLY BLUE RIVER
(Johnny Cash)
As recorded by Johnny Cash on "The Fabulous Johnny Cash" (1958)

INTRO:
(Run softly, Blue River; my darlin's asleep.
Run softly, Blue River; run cool and deep.)

Run softly, Blue River; my darlin's asleep.
Run softly, Blue River; run cool and deep.

Oh, I thrill to her kisses and she thrills to mine.
Run softly while she sleeps and dreams for a time,
'Cause she dreams of tomorrow when she'll be my wife,
And I pray that as peaceful as you is our life,
And if your murmuring soothes me till I'm sleeping too,
Run softly, Blue River; we'll both dream with you.

REFRAIN:
(Run softly, Blue River; my darlin's asleep.
Run softly, Blue River; run cool and deep.)

REPEAT Verse

REFRAIN:
(Run softly, Blue River; my darlin's asleep.
Run softly, Blue River; run cool and deep.)

REPEAT REFRAIN & FADE:
(Run softly, Blue River; my darlin's asleep.
Run softly, Blue River; run cool and deep.)

Subject: RE: JOHNNY CASH SONGS
From: wysiwyg
Date: 20 Oct 03 - 11:22 AM

Great, Gene! BTW, it's helpful, when you add a lyric, if you change the subject line of the post (see this one). Makes it easier to spot them when people search here.

~Susan

Subject: RE: JOHNNY CASH SONGS
From: Chris in Wheaton
Date: 20 Oct 03 - 12:51 PM

My all-time favorite is John's version of One More Ride on Marty Stuart's album - Doc Watson plays on the breaks and it really grooves.
Just incredible to think of the guys that recorded for Sam Phillips - I hope the music lives forever!
As I remember, John should also be remembered for his code-breaking skills while in the military.
Chris in Wheaton

Subject: RE: JOHNNY CASH SONGS
From: Wotcha
Date: 21 Oct 03 - 12:07 PM

Now that he is gone, his final work even more poignant. The song "Hurt" has so much going on in it, that he has immortalized his own mortality ...

Cheers,

Brian