His wife June Carter, the woman on the staircase looking at him with concern, died a month after the video was shot. Johnny died a year later. This is a cover of a Nine Inch Nails song written by Trent Reznor. Upon hearing Cash's version, Reznor was so overwhelmed he declared: "It's not my song anymore."
Thank you Alistair, saved me saying it. Sometimes a song ends up not being yours anymore once someone has taken it and really made it theirs. Knowing Cash' history, this song fits him like a glove.
Was 16YO and the roadie for my friends band when a 13YO Trent got dropped off at my friends garage by his grandmother IIRC to audtion to for a keyboard player wanted ad. He got the job (duh) and he was lead singer within a few months. I had a 4 track open reel in my basement and the band spent countless hours recording stuff and transferring to cassstte. We were all so poor that we used the same 10" reel master tape over and over again. Nothing remains on the master tape and no cassettes have been found by the previous band members.
With all due respect, we shouldn’t diminish the courage, strength, and talent of the people who first poured out all their pain and vulnerability on paper, regardless of whichever versions we related to the most.
@@KC-bv9kf with all respect as a fan of nin thye were still just kids speaking the truth of there now with cash its a life story and a bit more poignant and heart breaking
Closing the piano at the end.. always gets me- like he’s saying goodbye for the last time- and he was- not to be morbid.. but the piano lid seems symbolic to a casket. RIP Mr. Johnny Cash- ❤️🙌🏻
No need to feel bad. I think Johnny meant the piano lid to symbolize a casket. He was just that type of guy. Willing to endure pain himself if it helped others or at least made them feel.
It was definitely symbolic of an ending, no doubt about it. The fond rub of the piano cover was like a fond farewell to something he had loved. The feeling of mortality is palpable in the song.
yes, apparently the great jazz pianist Thelonious monk did the same ...one day he just shut the piano lid and said ...i am never going to play anymore .
Johnny's wife June Carter Cash was standing on the stairs, the woman in the picture on the wall was his mother-in-law whom he loved dearly. His wife died 3 months after this was filmed and Johnny passed 4 months after her. When Johnny's daughter first saw this video, she cried and said "It sounds like you're saying goodbye" and Johnny replied "I am". This song resonated with him and was a reflection his life, regrets, was an apology and a Goodbye..... Unfortunately such great wisdom seems comes to us ONLY as the end approaches. May this song be taken as the cautionary tale that it is and help others a bit sooner in their life.... RIP Johnny and June.... thanks for this one Bros!!
This song became so much more painful to listen to a couple of months after he released it. It was like he was saying, before I go, I just remind everybody that I have been and always will be the man.
The original song is about a young guy dealing with drug addiction and mental illness. Cash took it and made it about trying to live with regrets at the end of life. I see this song as an expression of how shit it is to get old and die, which will happen eventually to all of us, so make the best of what you have now
The man in black. Grew up on his music with June Carter Cash. She died soon after this and then he followed not long after. He couldn't live without her. He was in love with her forever. Watch Walk the Line with Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon. Its about the story of their love.
I have known of Johnny Cash since my childhood. His distinctive sound and the depth of his lyrics. When I heard him sing this song, I immediately understood it to be about the end of his journey. From monetary poverty to wealth and all the trappings the wealth brings, it is the love in his life that provided richness. When his loves were gone, the money did not matter. May his memory be for a blessing.
Reminds me of a quote based loosely on George Bernard Shaw words: "Youth is wasted on the young". Only becomes apparent when you are old. Live every moment as if it's your last! The ability to trigger such emotion in a song is phenomenal!
“I’m young but I feel old” You guy have a gift of listening to and feeling the music that you react to. So many other reaction videos hold back the emotion that we all feel in these songs and I just love that we as followers can see and relate to this emotion in your words and your facial expressions. It’s like experiencing it again through someone else’s eyes. Beautiful. - Thank you and hello from America
Just like Freddie Mercury released the video for 'These Are The Days Of Our Lives' to say goodbye and to send us all his love, this was Johnny Cash's final gem as a present to us all. This was Johnny's final farewell to all of us. God rest his dear soul. What a legacy of work he left us!
" If I can start again, a million miles away, I will keep myself, I will find a way". This verse hits hard, regardless of your hardships and mistakes on life you'll always find a way of loving yourself and who you're really are. Great reaction fellas.
Profoundly moving. He had a television show when I was very young. My father and I would watch it together.....legend. His work is classic. Green Green Grass of Home, Orange Blossom Special, I Walk The Line......
I love this song, downloaded it years ago - it's just poignant with Johnny Cash in his later years and he sings it well. However This is such a hard song for me to listen to now - there's a line in it which says 'Everyone I know goes away in the end' and it is so painful. In 2016 I lost my best friend of over 25 years in a car crash. It was a terrible time - I was completely numb and in denial for ages. I've learned to live with it because there really is no alternative but it's not something you can get over. This song and the Pink Floyd song Wish You Were Here are the two songs which bring back such emotions to me, thankfully not as bad as I felt back then, but enough. Music has that power. That's all I can say, thank you for your reaction, guys.
I'm sorry for your loss Anne , had a similar experience with my grandmother over 20 years ago still hurts like a dull ache , never cried so hard in my life I was inconsolable for a time but like you said you don't have a choice except to accept it
@@shanenolan8252 Thank you Shane, it's something which you can never prepare for is it? It takes a long time to accept it, but you have to go on. I have such good memories of her and I miss her so much. I'm so sorry for your loss too.
@@annemaclean6634 agreed there is no preparing for it , at the time she was the first person I knew personally that died it was a rude awakening , but she was a very elderly and sick woman she had cancer for 20 years and she was 84 I believe she was glad to go , but a school friend recieved a cancer diagnosis she had just turned 30 3 mounts later she was gone , and she appeared to be the picture of health that was very shocking but as you said good memories are key and despite the pain it's better that never having known them. Thank you for your condolences Anne.
The amazing thing is Johnny did not write this song. The original version was written by Trent Reznor, frontman for Nine Inch Nails. After Johnny did his version a reporter asked Trent how he felt that Johnny Cash was covering his song. "It's not my song anymore." he responded. It was as if to say that it was Johnny's song now, forever and always. The song and video is absolutely stunning.
His Mom always loved gospel. He always sang a gospel song during everyone of his concerts. The ending was keeping his respect for his Mom to include Jesus.
This was the LAST track Johnny recorded. He lays it all out. His mistakes, flaws, things he would have done differently. All, the money, fame, and accolades he achieved over his career all mean nothing in the end. His "empire of dirt". He knew he was dying and he would be leaving earth soon. His wife June died about two months after this video was made and he died a few month later too in September 2003. My favorite scene is the very last one when he closes the piano lid and gently caresses it. His music is now complete and finished and I believe he was now at peace at last, but his music still with US.
i have freinds from eastern europe, they all know rock n roll, but when i introduce them to country they all love it!! I think because when they describe the music they would listen to in there cities and towns were a type of folk music, and country is a type of folk music just more rock and blues!!!
Gentlemen, so glad you listened to the great Johnny Cash. Do yourself a favor and listen to every song he's ever sang. Everyone else has explained the history of it.
music has the power to break through our barriers, to make us feel, to move us despite ourselves. this song left a bruise, thank you man in black and thank you george and patrick for doing this incredibly moving song.
American Icon and listening and growing up with to Johnny... this is such a powerful song for any Johnny fans.... the meaning reaches every ear I hope. Life if short and fleeting.
His wife passed away followed by him after this video. He had a very long career. The song was written and recorded originally by Trent Rezner of Nine Inch Nails. Rezner said after hearing Johhny's rendition, he said the song now belonged to Cash.✌
this was his last song he ever played< CASH was a legend true outlaw!!!! you bros should read about his life, its classic !! CASH ,Waylon Jennings, Johnny Paychek, country Gods!! and started Outlaw Country!! they went to prison, shot people, drug raids, you name it these guys did it!!! they did so much drinking and drugs the stories are unreal!!! glad to see you bros doing some country!! keep up the good work!!
the clips of his life punctuate the song perfectly. it makes you think about your own mortality. i have had so many friends go before me that the line "everyone i know goes away in the end" tears my heart out.
I think the brilliance of Trent's writing is that it could be about drug addiction or any addiction, or old age and regrets about the way you lived your life or the road it took. It is definitely a cautionary tale for those who think by amassing things, that will give them happiness, it won't. One of the most powerful songs every written and best sung by Mr Johnny Cash. Bravo...
I grew up hearing stories about Johnny Cash. He was in prison with my uncles brother. They maintained a relationship for life. I wish I was able to meet him. May he RIP
every single time he appears in old footage in this video, when he was still a middle aged man, you get the distinct certainty that Bruce Willis nailed his comment: every tough guy in the world, sooner or later has to come to terms with the fact he'll never be as tough as Johnny Cash. What a badass.
he passed away less than a year after this came out. this is actually a cover, he said that he did this song because he felt that it was a story about his life. one of the few covers that's better than the original.
Good to see you guys hurt......makes you human.....and makes us love you guys more!!! As a older person this might be my last message.....Johnny Cash...R.I. P. my Brother........
The crazy part of this song is everyone even if they don’t cry they get very serious and their face gets very flush. That’s how deep it is, we all turn red with emotions
This video was made in Feb 2003, his wife June died in May 2003 and Johnny died in Sept 2003. He experienced so much pain and regret, you can hear it in his voice.
The movie about his life is really good explanation for his pain. His brother’s death the father blamed him for, his addiction to drugs and alcohol and how his wife June saved him. I don’t think he wanted to go on after her death.
The man in black or Undertaker .. Johnny Cash!! He was from my Daddy's era. I grew up listening to my Daddy pick a guitar & sing. For some reason .. my Daddy didn't care for JC. I however do like his music. Mr. Cash was a hellion when he got started in music. Shortly after he started heavy drinking & taking pills becoming an addict. He still performed well. He toured with the Carter fam where he met June Carter .. also a well known country singer who later became his 2nd wife (she's in the video). It's said June kept Johnny straight & helped him thru so many "episodes". He loved her dearly for that. It appeared he was devastated when she died & was just never the same. I met June's brother Lenny about 5 years ago. He talked about how he didn't know how Johnny got thru June's funeral. He said Johnny was pitiful. June died in May 2003 while Johnny died just 4 months later in September. This song makes me think how sad he must've truly been plus he was very sick when he recorded the song. Btw: this song is a Nine Inch Nails original written by Trent Reznor who commented later that Johnny had made it his own. Y'all should react to Trent's version of this same song. Anyway great BroActions guys .. thnx. B safe & well .. peace out✌🏼🤘🏼💓
@@lisamorrison2149 Hey girl .. Ikr .. I was very surprised. He was such an interesting person to talk with too. He owned an aviation flight school close by. The flight school is @ a small local airport also where several of the al-Queda guys were receiving flight lessons B4 they attacked the US on 911.. a side WOW factor. We actually made a date but I had to cancel @ the last minute & we never hooked up again. I had things going on @ that time & he was getting prepped to fly to Jamaica I think it was & well time got away from us. Oh well such is life .. lol
Johnny Cash had a tough childhood and as a result, developed addictons. He feels like he let his loved ones down, which happens when you're an addict. As he reflects on this, he seems overcome with sadness near the end of his life. I think he was way too hard on himself when he recorded this. I think the secret is to live your life in such a way that you won't have so many regrets at the end. RIP Johnny Cash 😞❤️🙏
This song always brings tears to my eyes ... after hearing this song, I do mostly switch to Johnny's "A Boy Named Sue", which is more a funny song with a nice, entertaining story.
Everytime I hear this song I have tears in my eyes. I am 50 years old and feeling the pain, too. Thank you guys for the reaction to this great performance by Johnny Cash. RIP Johnny
Johnny Cash had so many wonderful, deep, powerful songs. Did you know he also had a great sense of humor? Try "A Boy Named Sue" and "The Chicken in Black" for a lighter side of him.
Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails wrote this about heroin addiction, "the needle tears a hole". Cash had his own issues with pills and booze when he was younger, as well as women, causing his first marriage to end, and some estrangement from his children from his first wife. His second wife, June Carter Cash is the woman on the stairs, the woman in the photo is his mother. That little, abandoned, shabby, white house you see him peering in the windows in one of the flashbacks is the house where he grew up poor, farming cotton. Probably best known for his live concert at Folsom prison in 1968, he was a country music legend, did some gospel music, and country rock as well.
The thing I find interesting about this is he asked Trent well Cash agent asked Trent if he could cover this song, just found that cool and at first upon hearing it Trent wasn't fully sure about it and all this. Then he saw the video and it hit him, he was at a very low point in his life and Johnny Cash the biggest name in Country ever and by biggest I'm nt even lying there people that don't even like country that love his music. But second he saw the video it pretty much saved him and helped him out of his funk. Another interesting story is when he showed his daughter the video his daughter was like. "Dad you look like you dying." He just came back with. "Cause I am." It's always crazy to just see singers knowing there time is coming up.
it's specifically about heroin addiction - which Mr. Cash knew first hand. My son also battled this demon - heroin. it's so much deeper with this man's life behind these hopeless lyrics. they are so accurate- I cry every time I hear it. it's haunting and devastating
I’m addicted to watching your reactions and going on the journey with you. Your honesty, sincerity, and heartfelt analysis of every song is deeply appreciated. Thank you.
Your welcome, the channel is great. "The Band Played Waltzing Matilda" by Irish Folk legend Liam Clancy is another very moving song. It is an anti-war song about WW1. The "Mitchmallow" upload is best quality. Thanks, from Ireland. ✌️☘
A Trent Reznor song but Johnny owns the popularity of it .. Johnny's brother died in a saw mill accident from a blade that went into his chest when he was only 14 and Johnny was 12 ..He had to live that out being too young to deal with that and it had to have messed with his mind all of his life .. You need to see the film WALK THE LINE
Wow! I don't know what to say. I've never heard this before. Feeling emotional. Enjoy and live life, dudes! Live goes by so much faster than you could ever imagine!
