Wintertijd

Cash is King

Now I've always been a Johnny Cash fan. Not just because of the blood and the mud and the beer in his voice, but also because of his various musical achievements later in life. A sixty-something year old country man who sits down and records songs by Nine Inch Nails, Nick Cave, U2, Tom Petty and Depeche Mode acoustically is someone to pay heed to. His voice was cracking at the seems in the end, and he's never been the finest guitar picker around, but by God, the man has lived and he habitually poored his whole life into the songs he sung.

Walk the Line is based on his autobiographies and stars Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon as John and June Cash. I'm not even gonna talk about this movie. If you like Johnny Cash, go see it. If you don't like Johnny Cash, go see it so you might learn something. 'Nuffsaid. The movie is impressive as hell, and I'd like to see some form of recognition for the leads. If you know Cash, you know he sounds unique. I didn't think it was possible, but Joaquin Phoenix pulls off a performance that is deeply impressive.

This movie also taught me a thing or two about Cash's life and music. It turns out that one my favourite songs is one of the first he wrote. In the movie there's one scene where he's doing his first audition and he gets told that gospel standards won't cut it, and that the A&R man wants to hear something that is his own, something real.

Cash: "There are some songs I wrote in the Air Force. Have you got something against the Air Force?"
A&R man: "No, I don't"
Cash: "Well, I do", and starts singing Folsom Prison Blues.

I hear the train a comin?
it?s rolling round the bend
and I ain?t seen the sunshine
since I don?t know when,
I?m stuck in Folsom prison,
and time keeps draggin? on
but that train keeps a rollin?
on down to San Anton..

When I was just a baby
my mama told me Son,
always be a good boy,
don?t ever play with guns.
But I shot a man in Reno
just to watch him die
When I hear that whistle blowing,
I hang my head and cry..

I bet there?s rich folks eating
in a fancy dining car
they?re probably drinkin? coffee
and smoking big cigars.
Well I know I had it coming,
I know I can?t be free
but those people keep a movin?
and that?s what tortures me...

Well if they?d free me from this prison,
if that railroad train was mine
I bet I?d move just a little
farther down the line
far from Folsom prison,
that's where I want to stay
and I?d let that lonesome whistle
blow my blues away

Like I said, Cash is King. Elvis ain't got nothing on the man. Ever.

Posted by Chris at February 13, 2006 10:51 AM