As a rule, I detest country music. Especially that “Young Country” horse shit that Nashville is hellbent on passing off as the real thing. Although, I must confess that I have an odd love for the old school, “Classic Country”.
One the people whom I have the uttermost respect for; is Johnny Cash. His message is timeless, that voice; no one could ever replace him.
Johnny’s life was, shall we say; interesting. His drug addiction, his fight to get sober, his remarriage, his everything.
One of the biggest tragedies is that because of Johnny’s personal life and problems, one of the sweetest things that is often overlooked, and that was his positive message that appeared in much of his later music, and in some of his earlier work too.
Johnny Cash also for me was the embodiment of the Southern Conservative Christian or if you will, Baptist way. With all of it’s hangups, hypocrisy and nuances. I do not mean that as a slam either, it is hard to put into words the feelings I get when I listen to Johnny’s music. You know, that lump in the throat kind of nostalgia. Put simply, Johnny Cash is the sound of America, The Sound of Appalachia, I could go on here; but I think you know what I mean.
Another thing that I really admired about Johnny was that he was one the very few, that came down off the “I’m better than you” country music mountain in the 1960’s and sat down, broke bread and talked with the counter culture of the hippy generation. Instead of an snide attitude towards them, he had the nicest attitude towards them, he did something that not many people would; he sat and listened to them. He also made music with Bob Dylan, something that just did not happen in that era. The Conservative political world could learn much from Johnny Cash. I think that the world would be much better served if those in politics; bloggers, pundits, and the politicians themselves, would listen to one another, instead of hating, yelling and fighting amongst one another.
Besides, who the hell else could stand on a stage with a backing band and say the Words. “My Name is Sue! How do you do? NOW YOU GONNA DIE!” and have everyone in the audience not have a problem believing that the ol’ boy means business?
We might not have Johnny Cash anymore, but we do have the music as one hell of a great legacy.
Okay enough of the yammering here. Here we go with a few of Johnny’s songs, that I like.
Man in Black:
Boy Named Sue:
God’s gonna cut you down:
Trackposted to , The Pink Flamingo, A Newt One/ American Truth Warriors, Rosemary’s Thoughts, Leaning Straight Up, The World According to Carl, and DragonLady’s World, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.
I think you’re completely right about Cash.
By his widespread fan base alone it’s easy to see that his bridging the gap, in the 60s-70s and playing with people like Dylan, have had long lasting effects. As such you have just as punk rock kids who swear by Cash and grandmothers who listen to him while they back (I know mine does). I think it’s just amazing that an artist was able to do that, I can’t recall anyone else doing it.