Johnny Cash Quotes

John R. Cash was an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, actor, and author. He is widely considered one of the most influential popular musicians of the 20th century and is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, having sold more than 90 million records worldwide. Although primarily remembered as a country music icon, his genre-spanning songs and sound embraced rock and roll, rockabilly, blues, folk, and gospel. This crossover appeal won Cash the rare honor of multiple inductions in the Country Music, Rock and Roll, and Gospel Music Halls of Fame.

Cash was known for his deep, calm bass-baritone voice, the distinctive sound of his Tennessee Three backing band, which is characterized by train-sound guitar rhythms; a rebelliousness coupled with an increasingly somber and humble demeanor, free prison concerts, and a trademark, all-black stage wardrobe, which earned him the nickname "The Man in Black." He traditionally began his concerts by simply introducing himself, "Hello, I'm Johnny Cash," followed by his signature song "Folsom Prison Blues".

Much of Cash's music contained themes of sorrow, moral tribulation, and redemption, especially in the latter stages of his career. His signature songs include "I Walk the Line", "Folsom Prison Blues", "Ring of Fire", "Get Rhythm", and "Man in Black". He also recorded humorous numbers like "One Piece at a Time" and "A Boy Named Sue"; a duet with his future wife, June Carter, called "Jackson" ; and railroad songs including "Hey, Porter", "Orange Blossom Special" and "Rock Island Line". During the last stage of his career, Cash covered songs by several late 20th-century rock artists, notably "Hurt" by Nine Inch Nails and "Personal Jesus" by Depeche Mode.

✵ 26. February 1932 – 12. September 2003
Johnny Cash photo
Johnny Cash: 51   quotes 31   likes

Famous Johnny Cash Quotes

“You build on failure. You use it as a stepping stone. Close the door on the past. You don't try to forget the mistakes, but you don't dwell on it. You don't let it have any of your energy, or any of your time, or any of your space.”

Variant: You build on failure. You use it as a stepping sone. Close the door on the past. You don't try to forget the mistakes, but you don't dwell on it. You don't let it have any of your energy, or any of your time, or any of your space.

Johnny Cash Quotes about time

“I wear the black for the poor and the beaten down,
Livin' in the hopeless, hungry side of town,
I wear it for the prisoner who has long paid for his crime,
But is there because he's a victim of the times.”

Man in Black ·  First public performance (17 February 1971) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t51MHUENlAQ
Song lyrics, Man in Black (1971)
Source: The Essential Johnny Cash

Johnny Cash Quotes about love

Johnny Cash: Trending quotes

“Hello, I'm Johnny Cash.”

Opening lines at many of his concerts and public appearances.

Johnny Cash Quotes

“Listen to the words long written down,
When the man comes around.”

Song lyrics, American IV: The Man Comes Around (2002), The Man Comes Around
Context: 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,
When the man comes around.

“I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die.”

Source: The Very Best of Johnny Cash

“I'm not bitter. Why should I be bitter? I'm thrilled to death with life.”

CNN interview (2002)
Context: I'm not bitter. Why should I be bitter? I'm thrilled to death with life. Life is — the way God has given it to me was just a platter — a golden platter of life laid out there for me. It's been beautiful.

“Hear the trumpets, hear the pipers.
One hundred million angels singin'.
Multitudes are marching to the big kettle drum.
Voices callin', voices cryin'.
Some are born an' some are dyin.”

It's Alpha and Omega's Kingdom come.
Song lyrics, American IV: The Man Comes Around (2002), The Man Comes Around

“At my door the leaves are falling;
A cold wild wind has come.
Sweethearts walk by together;
And I still miss someone.”

I Still Miss Someone, written by Johnny Cash and Roy Cash
Song lyrics, The Fabulous Johnny Cash (1958)

“Just around the corner there's heartache
Down the street that losers use.
If you can wade in through the teardrops,
You'll find me at the Home of the Blues.”

Home of the Blues, written by Johnny Cash, Douglas L. McAlphin, and Glenn Douglas Tubb
Song lyrics, Johnny Cash Sings the Songs That Made Him Famous (1958)

“The line "because you're mine, I walk the line."”

It kept coming to me, you know? But I was — I was … young and not been married too long. Yes, it kept coming to me. Because you're mine, I walk the line. And then the words just naturally flowed. It was an easy song to write.
CNN interview (2002)

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