Story Behind The Song
I wrote this originally in "present tense" after reading about Johnny's impending demise in a crazy tabloid headline at the grocery store. Then, within weeks of me writing it, Johnny did in fact pass away. So I went back and turned it from a tribute to a
Song Description
A retrospective tribute to the late Johnny Cash, referencing various moments and songs in his long brilliant career.
| Song Length |
4:08 |
Genre |
Country - Alternative, Blues - Country |
| Tempo |
Medium (111 - 130) |
Lead Vocal |
Male Vocal |
| Mood |
Poignant, Moving |
Subject |
Sorrow, Spirituality |
| Similar Artists |
Lyle Lovett, Kris Kristofferson |
Language |
English |
| Era |
2000 and later |
| |
Lyrics
Cash Me Out (N. Ball/T. Saputo)
Well he didnt have a fancy trill
like lead singers of today.
His soul just trembled in his throat
and his gut would lead the way.
His songs were drenched in sorrow
like an Appalachian rain,
full of hardluck times and tell-tale signs
that tomorrow held more pain.
Chorus:
Cash me out today, we lost ole Johnny.
He's up and joined his precious angel June.
If its darkest just before the light, don't it figure
that the man-in-black could light the darkest room.
While others tried to push their luck
with the same ole' borrowed style,
well he pushed himself from hell to hymn
like a man on borrowed time.
His voice had business with your soul
in an eerie sort of way,
not singing in the normal sense
more like God-come-down-to-play.
Chorus:
Cash me out today, we lost ole Johnny.
He's up and joined his precious angel June.
If its darkest just before the light, don't it figure
that the man-in-black could light the darkest room?
If prison is a holding cell
for interrupted dreams,
John woke 'em up one Folsom night
to the sound of tracks and steam.
I've heard that train come round the bend
a million times or more.
It built a station in my heart
where a bar-stool stood before.
Chorus:
Cash me out today, we lost ole Johnny.
He's up and joined his precious angel June
If its darkest just before the light, don't it figure
that the man-in-black could light the darkest room?
His Sunday mornings sobered up
when John came down to the Lord.
No better pilgrim walked this land
nor preached a truer word.
But he never laid it on too thick.
He respected us too much.
He just preached his heart and dropped the stick,
an' he kept his common touch
Chorus:
Cash me out today, we lost ole Johnny
he's up and joined his precious angel June
if its darkest just before the light, don't it figure
that the man-in-black could light the darkest room?
Refrain:
No ring of fire could ring him in.
No straight line broke his stride
No hammer beat him down for good
No name could steal his pride
The line he walked well that was our line too,
though at times we couldn't see.
'Cause it takes a man to blaze a trail
and set his brothers free.
Chorus (repeat twice):
Cash me out today, we lost ole Johnny.
He's up and joined his precious angel June.
If its darkest just before the light, don't it figure
that the man-in-black could light the darkest room?