My religion is nonexistent, and my Faith is shaky at the best of times. But when I hear Johnny signing this song, I find God, Jesus, and all the Heavenly Host.
What i love about this song is that he’s using terrifying, poetic imagery from the book of revelation and the Old Testament and just telling the story. There’s no softening the blow, there’s no false pretense, just pure biblical imagery in song form. Johnny was a poet and storyteller. He understood That he didn’t have to explain himself. That’s not the troubadour’s job. While he has an intention behind his art, part of appreciation is us trying to figure out what they mean.
He quotes from Revelation, chapter six. But as you noted, he doesn't preach. He's conversational in his tone. I think that's why even people who aren't particularly religious love Johnny Cash.
"Whoever is unjust, let him be unjust still. Whoever is righteous, let him be righteous still. Whoever is filthy, let him be filthy still. Listen to the Words long written down." That line gives me chills every time.
Yes - but the last line is even more disturbing - "in measured hundred weight and penny pound" - the final line Cash ever wrote and put to music - meaning all transgressions, big and small, will be held to account.
Brings tears of gratitude to my eyes, thank you Lord Jesus for all you went through and the blood you shed to purchase our Redemption and save only but any and all who will believe, thank you thank you thank you
Agree 100%. Cash is the most raw dude I ever heard. Live from Folsom prison. Live from San Quentin. Who does that? Cash tells rappers don't talk about it Son, be about it. I'm a guy who listens to rap exclusively before Cash. The guy is the real deal.
a boy named sue is by shel silverstien cash did a cover of it shel said it was fine becuase he knew cash would do it justice. you may know shel silverstein from peom books yyou may have read as a kid like the book falling up
@@abracadabra3033 The one where he plays it for the first time at a college is the best. He had only finished the song that morning. It really speaks to who Johnny was.
Yeah Johnny Cash did that cover better than the original. It's my understanding that the writer from NIN said as much himself Country is not my genre...but Johnny Cash is an exception
He fought hard to get to perform in the Prisons. They were worried about his safety etc. He said he wanted to perform for those men and they couldn't change his mind. Imagine an artist today trying to get to perform in a prison. Fighting that hard to get the clearance. Especially performing a song like Folsom Prison Blues.
@Jack Bauer Wow, that's really interesting to think about. AI turning on humanity because of our inefficiencies and wrong-doings has always been a common theme in the discussion of the future. But the thought that AI as a "perfect" being could represent Christ, bringing judgement to humanity, is pretty epic.
@@cesheph....I'd have to respectfully disagree, back then it wasn't uncommon for prisons to allow entertainment at their facility, the idea being it was incentive to stay on the good boy list. Johnny wrote the song while in the Air Force after his unit watched the movie "Inside The Walls of Folsom Prison". It was his 2nd single released off his first album in 1957. After that he got a lot of fan mail from prisoners and asking if he would play at their prison. His first prison performance was later that same year at Huntsville State Prison in Texas. He played at several other prisons over the next decade, but not Folsom. As his drug use increased, his popularity faded and his record label dropped him. In early Jan. 1968 shortly after June helped him get clean, he wanted to make a big comeback record. They decided to record the actual album at a prison show, which no one had ever done, his manager called San Quentin and Folsom and told Johnny which ever calls back first is where we record the album. Folsom called first and the rest is history. The cheers you hear from the inmates when Johnny sings the line, I shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die, were added later, apparently the inmates were told they couldn't get to rowdy and to only applaud and cheer immediately after each song, they didn't cheer at that line in fear of being kicked out or gettin a shot on their record.
Somewhere around 20 years ago my coworker and I started listening to this. I would shove it in the ear of anyone that had not heard it before. That song affects me the same today as the first time I heard it. Thank You for the RU-vid Sir!!!!
This is one of my favorite songs of Johnny cash. I believe his son wrote it for him if I'm not mistaken. It was also used in the movie Dawn of the Dead. One great thing about Jonny, you always know it's him as soon as you hear a lick on the guitar. My mother played a lot like his style. I loved him!
As noted by Bill, Johnny wrote this one himself. But Nick Lowe, who was his son-in-law for a time, wrote a magnificent song for him called 'The Beast in me'. It's on the first American Recordings album, and it's a must-listen.
Sam Phillips owned Sun Records. He was the first man to record Elvis Presley, Charlie Rich, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Johnny Cash. He once said, "Johnny Cash had more charisma than any man I ever met. The only one who was even close, was Elvis"
Theres some serious messages in many of his songs. You can tell Johnny was a man of the lord and even struggled with many things himself but kept his faith.
Great video, bro. Been having this song stuck in my head and my heart lately. It's one of those songs that kind of haunts you, doesn't let you go easy.
Trent Reznor said once Johnny sang Hurt it was his. He even know the song was wrote for him. This song here was an original and it is absolutely one of the greatest songs . Like you said . He spoke what he believed to be true.
Watching you discover some of this music allows me to listen to it for the first time all over again. Really appreciate your thoughtful and spiritual pesective. Thank you!
Love this song...Johnny Cash touches my heart in so many ways with his music. I’m not religious I’m very Spiritual as was my brother who loved him too, he passed away and I want to believe he is free of his pain now and smiling, laughing and being loved. R.I.P. my Sweet Man Johnny Cash. 💫💫
I’ve always loved the way the guitar comes in at the end of each verse when he sings, “When the man...comes around.” Such a classic! Spot on analysis, Abracadabra! (And he was indeed a major figure who influenced millions.)
Heard this Johnny Cash song for the first time in my life on the car radio tonight. The song had the same effect on me.!!! Really hit something in my soul. When I watched your excellent discussion!! Thanks for the interpretation. I had one or two similar thoughts but you covered everything !!! and filled in LOTS of blanks for me.
Love the reaction as always ! Johnny Cash's best recordings aren't his most popular . I can give you ten albums of his off the top my head that are all stellar and a true representations of him as a man and an artist .
Johnny Cash was a rebel, protesting with people on the streets, in his last years, when he was to weak because of cancer he said that he misses the interaction with the young people if America.. Great guy and he will always be the Daddy of all Rockstars! Period. Joe from Germany
Rick Rubin deserves a lot of love and credit, (originally from hip hop, & metal) he produced this and helped select tunes - Hurt, for instance. And Johnny had the courage and integrity to respond and give it all. If I’m not wrong, this was an original, but a remake from an earlier period.
Abracadabra 303- no, thank YOU! I love your in-depth and thoughtful commentary. Your vibe is very calming and much needed these days. Might you consider listening to Stone Temple Pilots’ song “Big Empty?” It was written for the soundtrack of The Crow. I think you’ll vibe with the lyrics. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-GqyposaQWnI.html
My brother, I love your reactions not just because of your REACTIONS, but because watching your inner peace helps me to bring the same. God bless. The world needs more peace.
@@martha0436 He's being tactful. The movie whitewashed Cash' life in a big way. He continued to have drug problems. And June came after Johnny, she was really a Homewrecker. In reality Vivian was a nice person who was supportive of him and his career. She wrote a book about her life with him, and there was a documentary from it; cant think of the name of it.
Love your heartfelt reaction to this Johny Cash tune. He was influenced so much by gospel music and teachings from the Bible. His spirituality shines through. This song is on the same CD as "Hurt", and when he was making this fine piece of work, his health was really failing with diabetes, and other inflictions, and knew his days were numbered. You can hear it in his anguished iconic voice. Love your channel. Thankyou.✌❤
Abra, Brother, I share your love and passion for emotional exploration through music. You have such a great way to pull apart the feelings and how the songs you share with us affects you. I too suffer from depression and music is my therapy. AND, I respect your willingness to be open and honest. You are part of the solution so thanks for that. Here’s a suggestion for you: “Don’t Give Up”-Peter Gabriel/Kate Bush.
Most people don't feel it, your definitely a man who is in touch with his soul. I knew who Johnny Cash was and had heard a song or two when i was a teenager in the early 80's. It wasn't until after i retired from the Marine Corps in 2015 having served in Force Recon and MARSOC for 22 years and having served 2 combat deployments to Iraq and 3 to Afghanistan i have a lot of scars both physically and mentally and quickly found that i couldn't hide either one. By the grace of God a beautiful woman who i had never met or seen before and am now very happily married to saved my life. I live outside of the same very small town i grew up living outside of one of those only has 1 traffic light towns. One evening while i was still addicted to and abusing oxycodone i had long since needed it for physical pain anymore but abusing it to try and hide from the mental pain the constant nightmares, flashbacks and severe depression. I found myself sitting on a bench in the little park in town i had a pistol in my hand and as i was raising it to my head to end my life out of the corner of my eye i saw someone approaching me so i quickly lower the pistol placing it on the bench beside me. As they got closer i saw this beautiful woman she walked over and just sat right down beside me. She started to talk to me and asked why was i sitting by myself, hell i didn't know what to say that's when she noticed the hat i was wearing which said Marine Force Recon and also noticed the pistol. She finally got me to start talking and eventually i just told her all the dark horrible traumatic and heartbreaking things that I'd seen and been thru i cried she comforted me and then took me to the VA hospital to get help. She goes with me every time i have to go to the VA she is the greatest woman in the world anyway one day on our way up Hurt came on the radio and it really touched me in away than any other song so i started listening to Johnny Cash and i know what mean about the way it makes you feel. God bless to you and your family.
thecomposer of the song "Hurt" , Trent Reznor said exactly what you said after hearing Cash...it was no longer his song , it is a Johnny Cash song. this song is a call to introspection...and it was not wasted on you...God bless
I've watched maybe 3 or 4 of your reactions, this one I subscribed. You look about my age, and at our age we see things differently than we did a "young" men. Diggin' your chill vibe, keep doing what your doing!
