The first time I heard this song, I was blown away. The second time I heard this song I was blown away. The 400th time I heard this song I was blown away.
Same. My dad( who recently passed away)could play guitar and had that same big, deep voice, and presence.. this song plays in my head 24/7, and the reaction in my soul is always amazed, in awe and soothed some how. Amazing musician and songwriter 🙏🖤🖤
I first heard Johnny Cash on the scratchy-radio of my Parent's '57 Nash Ambassador as we crossed the Nevada desert in what was it, 1962-? singing his new release which put him on the map- ''Ring of Fire''. THEN I met him in 1996 when he autographed my guitar in Sparks, Nevada. And then of course I heard THIS. I think this may be the most powerful ''popular'' song I've ever heard.
Fun fact, Johnny considered this song to be his magnum opus, he was adjusting and adding lyrics to it for years before recording it. Originally, he wrote enough verses for the song to last nearly 10 min, it was cut to better fit the album. I wish at some point the Cash estate will release the full lyrics at some point.
I never knew he wrote it. I'm surprised and impressed. Watching this, I was vaguely reminded of a video of him on stage with Hank Williams Jr, telling him that he loved Hank Williams Sr's well known song that he wrote called "I Saw the Light". Johnny said he always wanted to have a big gospel song like that, but didn't. ...I think this is that song that Johnny aspired to write. It's not as cheery sounding, but man if it isn't heavy and thought provoking.
I'm not a religious man but whenever I hear this dark gospel song I sing along every time and I start crying every time. At the end Cash carried such a power from his hardships and pains that it's hard not to break across that power he'd built over a lifetime. There will never again be another, the man in black.
Me, before seeing this video: “Johnny Cash might be the BEST DAMN storyteller in the history of music.” You: “He’s not a storyteller…. He’s a PROPHET.” You’re ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, Brother.
The story behind Rick Rubin (Def Jam) bringing Johnny Cash his due respect needs to be remembered. Rick just sat Johnny down and told him to play the songs he never got the chance to. The American Recordings volumes I-IV that followed were iconic, and the world is a better place because of them.
I was thinking the same thing. I study scripture, and I love this song and understand all the references in it and the meanings. it's interesting to see people's reaction who are not saved or people who don't understand scripture.
A prophet indeed ! Johnny Cash carried a heavy load , however, throughout his life , he unpacked his heavy load , until he carried no more , humbled n free ❤🙏
What a great offhand turn of phrase! "Hemingway and a bottle of whiskey, you sitting in a lawn chair in your garage at 3AM". A few succinct words creating a powerful visual, while capturing the (perhaps too) relatable feeling of the song.
THESE lines showed me this reviewer was a MAN, NOT a boy. Thank you for pointing this out. (By the way, Frank Sinatra was BURIED with a bottle of Jack Daniels. So THERE you are.)
Johnny is such a complex personality. Everything about him was exaggerated. His talent & his demons. But, he did conquer those demons and was still standing at the end. Great video.
I think Johnny Cash had a severe near death experience because he was always a believer in God but his brothers death had him blaming himself for years, which led to his addictions but after he hit his rock bottom, NDE, he COMPLETELY changed from believer to DEVOUT Christian…That man saw things, and I honestly think he did all he knew to warn, and tell all the only way he knew….
Never had Cash on my radar. First time I ever noticed him was when he covered "hurt" by NiN, read up on his country singing past and was amazed how ... overwhelming he can be. Then I found this song and it gives me goose bumps EVERY TIME, and depending on my mood it'll put tears in my eyes. Can't describe it ... it's just one of those songs, like. Iz Kamakawiwoʻole's Over the rainbow that gets me every time. Can't listen and not cry.
The fact that Johnny cash in his 70’s could write such a profound and beautiful song is astonishing. The words could be taken straight out of revelation. I was in awe when I heard this song for the first time. Everyone talks about hurt from this album but I like this one so much more
I cry every time I watch the music video. It shows the life of a man who passed through hardships and achieved fame then went down in history for being one of the greatest musicians of all time
Exactly. It’s never too late to repent. If the cup is offered, take it. If it’s offered at the end, will you take it? Because what comes next is Death on the pale horse and Hell follows with him. I am sorry you didn’t break the song down a bit more. That said, how does one follow that song and that performance?
I kinda see it as you will be offered a cup, your 1st cup, will you drink or wait for another offering? Maybe there will be another cup offered, will you drink that or decide not to decide and go into the potter's ground...never to live again but never having to decide between good and evil and keep fighting an endless battle to eternity. It seems like a choice between death and endless life. What if you drank from the 1st cup given to you and that decides where your soul resides forever...most peeps don't read the terms when they put a damn app on their cellphone, do you really think they'll ask questions from " The Man "?
As a songwriter/Singer I love J R Cash... he was a walking oxymoron, a man of unshakeable faith in God, yet often a sinner.... he was one in a billion.... a man with a message.
this is the lyrics of a man who's finally encountering his own mortality. Cash was an old, old man when this album was written. The song takes you to Cash's soul and the retrospective of not only his life but awaited him after he passes.
It's worth noting that on the Man Comes Around album, this is the opener, and that last spoken Bible passage leads straight into his cover of "Hurt". First time I heard those songs together on that album, I had to pause the tracks and cry
I always like Johnny Cash but like Leonard Cohen for some reason his voice sounded even better with age. Two of my favorite performances of his where among his last, namely this one and "Hurt".
So much Scripture. This touches me every time! Praise Yah! He was warning.... this is a song, prophetic words, for 2020-2021... Choose Yah! "As for me and my house...!"
I have been voice specialist for years and faculty at a symphony. I wouldn't change one thing about this. Some people can break all the rules because of their brilliance. I would put Neil Diamond in that category. What Cash does is pure poetry. LOVE him.
It’s only at the end of a life of fiery trials that you can sing songs like this one, and “Hurt”, with the gravitas to inspire introspection in the hearts of all who hear. ❤️🔥
Johnny Cash is a Legend among legends in the music industry and his music is timeless. no matter at what point in time you listen to his songs, we are all still blown away by his performances
I love how Cash’s spoken verses are slightly off-time, and yet they sound perfect within the confines of the song. The way he switches back and forth between sung and spoken is magical, and the meaning of the verses makes the soul ponder. Cash was a true legend.
I love how you say "cuz it's gonna go down..." and the next line is Johnny singing "In measured weight and penny pound" you became a part of the song at that point! profound
This song is so powerful in its message whether you're a believer or not. The lines, "At the terror in each sip and each sup. Will you partake of that last offered cup? I take that to mean, in your life you will be offered multiple chances to become a true human, but there is a limit to your chances. Further I take it to mean you're all sinners but you have a chance to be redeemed by becoming a loving giving thing, not thinking about your welfare but by thinking of the welfare of those around you. Obviously this song moves me.
The line (one hundred million angles singing) is a reference to his brother Jack who died from injuries he sustained in a mill accident, while in the hospital Jack kept saying that he could hear Angels singing just before he died. Jack was only 14yo.
Johnny Cash was obviously hiding his own thoughts about his death journey in this song. He always suggested that Hell was his destination. I never knew him, but he always seemed to believe that his sins were so very heavy that there could be no forgiveness in his last few records at least. He certainly didn't seem to take forgiveness for granted or assume that anything he had ever done redeemed him in God's eyes. That weight on his soul is part of the elder Johnny Cash. He was, although he would probably have disagreed, a profound man and one who took responsibility for every one of his sins. When he chose a different path from the one he had been living, he threw his entire being into it. He was like that - no half measures. I find him a powerful figure of a man and even more so after the death of his wife and his increasing age. He was the personification of bent but not broken.
He was a man of great faith. Maybe not of any particular religious dogma but a man of deep belief. He believed in an almighty power and that we will have to answer for our sins and he didn't exclude himself. In Man in Black he shows compassion for prisoners and drug addicts but he always made the harshest judgements on himself.
No he knew his sins were many,but covered by theBlood of Jesus on the cross. Good timing for this song with Easter coming up in a few weeks! The true meaning of Easter!
@@podunkcitizen2562 he was a man of deep Christian faith and studied the bible regularly. This song was poignant to remind all of us time is running out for our redemption and salvation lies with Christ in your heart and accepting him as our savior. Partake of the cup now before it's too late.
I thank God everyday for my parents they introduced me to the old time country music. Johnny Cash will always be my favorites. He is just like Elvis nothing he can't sing he did it his way.
Only one man had the voice and cajones to sing this song with the raw authority it requires to not come off as ridiculous. With Cash, it is a work of art from the Voice of God. Every one of your comments nailed the moment perfectly and honored what he accomplished, especially the last one.
You said it perfectly with, “This is Hemingway and a bottle of whiskey at 3 am” lol. I would like this song played at my funeral for this very reason. Great analogy, perfectly described, definitely subscribed.
Whenever the guitar lead comes in it's with a descending 3 note line that coincides with the lyrics that reference going down, coming down, going into the ground. More Cash genius.
It is Hemingway too! Measured in 100 weight and penny pound... As people who don't build our own barns or change our own oil anymore these things probably don't mean much to most. It gives me chills though every time I hear it. 100 weight would be about the viscosity of blood and penny pound is the weight measure for nails-imagery of the cross and the blood shed for the guilt of our sin that put Jesus there.
Man.......the lyrics of this song hits (every time) me like a 40 tonnes truck, each time I listen to it.......damn ! He is telling the ultimate truth of the end times/ days.............please ! you still have time at your disposal...............do something good, help others, help the poor and sick people, love one another.........Your soul will be uplifted with all the positive vibes you will get from these good deeds. May Allah bless you my brothers and sisters of humanity.
It is so amazing how the lyrics struck close to him, he is orally explaining this a lot, but man his body language.. He fells every word Johnny Cash sings and so am I
This song always makes me a feel a little like the second coming is just about to happen, even if I don't believe in that stuff. An ominous song if ever there was one.
I think this song hits the mark for any person who went to Sunday school as a kid. This kind of stuff is diasppearing in the modern world quite fast, and yeah, you can't stop progress, but unfortunately something is getting lost along the way.
I recommend "Hurt" next by him. He covers Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails. Trent said after Johnny covered it that it was no longer his song, it was now a Cash song. The song you just reviewed is very poignant in the times that we are going through. The man is indeed coming round
You asked, “What is he driving at with this song?” The biblical references are very pointed. ‘Alpha & Omega’ is Jesus (from Revelation) and he is the Man that comes around. My feeling is that nearing his death, Cash was compelled to leave a message warning of an eternity either in Gods presence or… not. One certainly sounds better than the other. But he plainly puts the victorious Jesus on a white horse (as depicted in Revelation) at the center of his message.
What Johnny Cash was getting at with this song is that we will be held responsible for our actions in this life, when the man comes around. There are some really great meanings in the lyrics.
I never knew he wrote it. I'm surprised and impressed. Watching this, I was vaguely reminded of a video of him on stage with Hank Williams Jr, telling him that he loved Hank Williams Sr's well known song that he wrote called "I Saw the Light". Johnny said he always wanted to have a big gospel song like that, but didn't. ...I think this is that song that Johnny aspired to write. It's not as cheery sounding, but man if it isn't heavy and thought provoking.
