Johnny Cash Dead at 71

[undergroundrailroad]

1932 - 2003

Country Singer Johnny Cash Dies at 71



The Associated Press
Friday, September 12, 2003; 6:04 AM


NEW YORK - Johnny Cash, a towering figure in American music spanning country, rock and folk and known worldwide as "The Man in Black," has died, according to hospital officials in Nashville, Tenn. He was 71.

"Johnny died due to complications from diabetes, which resulted in respiratory failure," said Cash's manager, Lou Robin, in a press release issued by Baptist Hospital in Nashville.

The release said Cash died at the hospital at 1 a.m. EDT. He was released from Baptist on Wednesday where he had spent two weeks being treated for an unspecified stomach ailment.

[VolcanoJen]

1. Dear God!!! What an awful day!

John Ritter, and now Johnny Cash, one of my beloved heroes!!! And he had just been released from the hospital yesterday.

:-( :-( :-(

Rest in Peace, our Man in Black.

[Art_from_Ark]

8. Is that really Johnny Cash?

At first (and second) glance, I thought it was Dick Nixon!

[liberalnurse]

11. I see the resemblance now too!!!

You so funny!

[liberalnurse]

2. You must have the

fastest fingers on DU :) Your good!

[DannyRed]

3. Roseanne, Warren,

and now Johnny.

What a rough year.

Life goes on, their music remains, and their spirit lives within us.

[E_Zapata]

5. John Ritter died? And Roseanne - as in tom arnold?

Oh my!

Not Roseanne?

I better read the boards, huh?

[DannyRed]

9. Roseanne

Carter Cash

[Bake]

12. June Carter Cash

Johnny Cash said after her passing that she was the "love of his life" and he didn't know how he'd go on.

I suppose Johnny's death was to be expected, he was in bad health. Still, he was one of the truly great ones. He will be sorely missed.

Bake

[DannyRed]

13. Youch.

Sorry, what a doofus I can be...

Anyway, thanks.

[VolcanoJen]

4. Link...

Very abbreviated, early version:

http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/O/OBIT_CASH?SITE=OHDAY&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Sep 12, 5:59 AM EDT

Country Singer Johnny Cash Dies at 71


NEW YORK (AP) -- Johnny Cash, a towering figure in American music spanning country, rock and folk and known worldwide as "The Man in Black," has died, according to hospital officials in Nashville, Tenn. He was 71.

[VolcanoJen]

6. CNN reports he died at 2:00 am CT of respiratory failure...

... which came as a result of long-term complications from diabetes.

He passed away at the same hospital he was released from just two days ago, in Nashville, Tennessee.

[Dookus]

7. oh...

this breaks my heart.

Johnny was one of a kind. godspeed, J.

[JI7]

10. amazing man

with his wife now.

[Dookus]

14. I knew...

when June died, he wouldn't live a lot longer. But I hoped he'd do one more album. His latest work has been the best of his career.

If any DU readers have NOT listened to his American Recordings series, then go out NOW and buy them. Simply amazing stuff.

[StuartStark]

55. Absolutely. The Man Comes Around is... I don't even have the words...

... to describe how wonderful it is.

[Bridget Burke]

16. May the Circle be Unbroken

The news show on bbcamerica just did a spot on Johnny Cash. They noted that he'd been threatened by the Klan for supporting racial equality (they also mentioned his opposition to the Vietnam War & support of American Indian Rights).

I saw him live a couple of times at the old Houston Coliseum. The show included the Carter Family (Mother Maybelle, June & her two sisters), the Statler Brothers (silly comics but golden-throated backup singers)--with Carl Perkins & a very young Marty Stuart (Stewart?) in the band.

And then, there's this famous shot of Mr. Cash:

www.clubnashville.com/jcashad.htm


(edited to make sense)

[dArKeR]

15. I saw him play at the Sherton or Hilton in Hawaii about 1981.

His daughter and her husband/boyfriend were in the show too. Guess nows not a good time to bring up dirt.

[xchrom]

17. farewell

you were well loved, and you will be greatly missed.
rest in peace.

[phishhead]

18. One of the only country music artists I've ever liked..

Rest in Peace, Johnny.

[OneBlueSky]

19. Carter Family reunion now going on in Heaven . . .

gonna have a hell of a band . . . RIP, Johnny Cash . . . your music and your legacy will live forever . . .

[blondeatlast]

39. Man, wouldn't that be something to see?

[undergroundrailroad]

20. Rest in Peace Johnny, my long time music friend.

In Memoriam



Johnny Cash
1932 - 2003

[stlsaxman]

21. Thank you, Johnny for all your great works, and godspeed.

[onehandle]

22. Fucking MTV couldn't do the right thing.

Washed up Madonna slobbering two no-talent mouseketeer bimbos took the show.

[theboss]

42. He was in the hospital

Should they have wheeled him out in a gurney?

I actually thought MTV did all right by Johnny at the VMAs. The pre-show had a great tribute to him. They nominated him six times; granted he should have won, but I mean, what are the odds MTV gives an award to a 70-year-okd? And even Justin Timberlake did a tribute to him.

I'm just happy that a few million teens got any exposure to him at all. I'm sure his music got downloaded a lot that night and a lot of new fans were created.

[Cooley Hurd]

23. Johnny Cash...

...a towering figure in music and American pop culture who will be sorely missed.

My condolences...

[dani]

24. such sad news

Here's a snippet from Yahoo News

..."The Ballad of Ira Hayes" told of the drunken death of an American Indian soldier who helped raised the American flag at Iwo Jima during World War II, but returned to harsh racism in America.

Cash said in his 1997 autobiography "Cash" that he tried to speak for "voices that were ignored or even suppressed in the entertainment media, not to mention the political and educational establishments."

[dbt]

25. 'Towering Figure' ain't the half of Cash!

He lived in that border land between Country and Rock And Roll. He set the very dirt of it to music that was gritty, ornery and honest. To this day, people who say they "can't stand Country" love Johnny Cash.

Who else's music makes nose-ring grrrls and Bond Daddies slam dance together when the band plays "Folsom" in some sweaty little dive at 2:00 AM?

Who was ahead of Cash in standing for the rights of Native Americans and against the wrongs of Viet Nam?

Who could match him for just plain not giving a rat's ass what somebody else might think?

Who was a bigger badass than John R. Cash? Water Moccasins would back up when he walked by.

"He's a walkin' contradiction,
Partly truth and partly fiction,
Takin' every wrong direction
On his lonely way back Home." --Kris Kristofferson

Thank you, Johnny. Arkansas weeps for the Prodigal Sun.

[blondeatlast]

40. Great tribute!

[dbt]

41. Thank you.

Would that I had a tenth of his Gift.

[peacefreak]

26. His heart was with his beloved June

and that is where he is now. Something to be said for the strength of love. May he truly rest in peace.

[Enraged_Ape]

27. Our Man in Black. One of my heroes in a world where there are so few.

I knew it was a matter of time. He was so sick and I know he missed his wife terribly. Now they are singing together with the family in the "sweet by and by".

What a morning. I almost can't stand to see the rest of the news.

[Amaya]

28. What a day indeed

Rest in Peace Johnny.

[bleedingheart]

29. While it is sad to lose him

I think that he is now with the woman he loved.

What a sad day...

[sendero]

30. I'm one of those....

... who doesn't care for (much) country music, but think Johnny Cash is an artist the likes of which there are always few.

He tried, in songs, interviews, and his life to raise understanding. he saw things and would say things that others prefered to not see and not say.

May he have eternal rest with his beloved wife.

[buddhamama]

31. sad, sad day

thank you old friend,you made a difference.
you live on and won't be forgotten.

peace

:cry:

[deutsey]

32. RIP, Johnny

You added so much to my life, in too many ways for me to express. I loved your music, I loved your integrity, I loved you.

Rest in peace, Johnny. O8)

[demnan]

33. What a marvelous man and musician he was

His humanity and honesty were apparent in everything he did. He was the very heart and soul of the American folk music we call Country today. Never a formula pop artist, his music always expressed his personal joy, sorrow and view of social injustice.

For a long time he will be remembered and has left a legacy to all the young musicians who were influenced by him. We won't see his like again.

I bought "The Man Comes Around" a few months ago, his last album. The album is extraordinary in the choice of songs by others, as well as his original compositions. Cash never sat on his laurels, whether he was writing about the Apocalypse, or singing Danny Boy or Hurt from Nine Inch Nails he made everything he did fresh and original and true.

[Rainbowreflect]

34. I believe he really died of a broken heart.

He did not want to go on without his beloved wife. They are together again today.

[underpants]

38. June Carter died three months ago today

If that is true that is not uncommon. Couples who have been together for a long time quite often pass in rather close proximities of time.

RIP Johnny. Truly a legend in country and rock n' roll.

[xxqqqzme]

51. true enough.

I remember a picure of him from June's memorial service - sitting in a church pew, looking lost and alone and I shuddered to think - that man will be gone soon. One of the original 'rock-a-billy' voices recorded by Sam Phillips. I feel old today!

[truthisfreedom]

35. the unforgiven, humble outlaw

with a voice that shook with the very deepest human fear and foreboding. he could simultaneously hang his head in shame at irreversible mistakes and raise his voice in anger about injustice... as american as apple pie and hotdogs, sunday church and friday bar-close. nobody will replace him. i don't doubt he was a democrat. he couldn't have been anything else.

[psychopomp]

36. RIP Mr. Cash

n/t

[blondeatlast]

37. Sad, sad, day for music.

He's earned his reward though.

God bless you, John, and say hi to my dad, who was a huge fan.

[Raenelle]

43. I thought this was coming, but I'm choked up. I loved him.

He was my very favorite singer of all time. Fuck.

[bobthedrummer]

44. That big gig in the sky just got a lot bigger

Johnny Cash was one of the few greats that came out of C&W, he was an outlaw and I will miss him.

I Walk the Line....

[AntiCoup2K4]

45. Johnny Cash, John Ritter, and Warren Zevon all within one week

OK, this week officially SUCKS ! :evilfrown:

[Jeff in Cincinnati]

46. Listening to his Madison Square Garden concert

Recorded at the height of the Vietnam War, this is from his introduction to "Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream"

“This past January we took our entire show, along with my wife June, we went to the Long Bihn AFB in Saigon. And a reporter friend of mine asked, “That makes you a hawk doesn’t it?”

I said, “No that doesn’t make me a hawk. No. That don’t make me a hawk.” But I said, “If you watch the helicopters bringing in the wounded boys, and then you go into the wards and sing for them and try to do your best to cheer them up so they that they can get back home, it might make you a dove with claws.”

A Dove With Claws. You bet.

[dbt]

47. DAMN, he was good!

He always cut right to the bone.

Go, Johnny, GO!

:yourock:
dbt

[alphafemale]

48. That's perfect.

Dove with claws.

[kwolf68]

63. Dove With Claws

The Man in Black will be missed. He represented what was RIGHT about music.

[flamingyouth]

49. RIP, Johnny

An amazing American talent.

:-(

[Art_from_Ark]

50. Lyrics to "The Man in Black"

Well you wonder why I always dress in black

Why you never see bright colors on my back

And why does my appearance seem to have a somber tone

Well there's a reason for the things that I have on

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

I wear the black for those who've never read

Or listened to the words that Jesus said

About the road to happiness through love and charity

Why you'd think he's talking straight to you and me

Well we're doin' mighty fine I do suppose

In our streak of lightning cars and fancy clothes

But just so we're reminded of the ones who are held back

Up front there oughta be a man in black

I wear it for the sick and lonely old

For the reckless ones whose bad trip left them cold

I wear the black in morning for the lives that could have been

Each week we lose a hundred fine young men

And I wear it for the thousands who have died

Believin' that the Lord was on their side

I wear it for another hundred thousand who have died

Believin' that we all were on their side

Well there's things that never will be right I know

And things need changin' everywhere you go

But till we start to make a move to make a few things right

You'll never see me wear a suit of white

Oh I'd love to wear a rainbow every day and tell the world that everything's okay

But I'll try to carry off a little darkness on my back

Till things're brighter I'm the man in black

[chiburb]

57. Thanks for posting that..

As appropriate today as in 1971 when he wrote it. Here is a snip and a link to a tribute website:

With this song, John painted a portrait of the essence of his work. The song focused world attention on the struggles of the common man. Furthermore, John used the song to establish his concern of the Vietnam war and ending that conflict. This was quite uncharacteristic for a country song.

http://maninblack.net/topsongs/top5song.htm

[playahata1]

52. I have never been a country music fan.

However, J.C. had a vibe about him that I liked very much, and there was an honesty to his music that you will not find too much of in any genre these days.

May you rest in grace and peace, Johnny. You will be missed.

[playahata1]

53. The Million Dollar Quartet is now reduced to one:

Jerry Lee Lewis. He will be performing at the Florida Theater in Jacksonville tonight.

RIP: Elvis, Carl, and Johnny.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

54. I saw Johnny play in the '80s

he was a great performer and a true champion of the underdog.

RIP

:cry:

[Bush_has_Parvo]

56. Goodbye, Johnny Cash. Thanks for leaving us with your

beautiful music. Rest in Peace, Man in Black.

[GreenArrow]

58. Johnny Cash was one of a kind

One of my all time favorite singers. There's nobody else like the Man in Black. Johnny Cash was real.

R.I.P. John

[makeanoise]

59. For Johnny, may these words inspire us all, at this time!!!

The Man In Black

Well, you wonder why I always dress in black,
Why you never see bright colors on my back,
And why does my appearance seem to have a somber tone.
Well, there's a reason for the things that I have on.

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.

I wear the black for those who never read,
Or listened to the words that Jesus said,
About the road to happiness through love and charity,
Why, you'd think He's talking straight to you and me.

Well, we're doin' mighty fine, I do suppose,
In our streak of lightnin' cars and fancy clothes,
But just so we're reminded of the ones who are held back,
Up front there ought 'a be a Man In Black.

I wear it for the sick and lonely old,
For the reckless ones whose bad trip left them cold,
I wear the black in mournin' for the lives that could have been,
Each week we lose a hundred fine young men.

And, I wear it for the thousands who have died,
Believen' that the Lord was on their side,
I wear it for another hundred thousand who have died,
Believen' that we all were on their side.

Well, there's things that never will be right I know,
And things need changin' everywhere you go,
But 'til we start to make a move to make a few things right,
You'll never see me wear a suit of white.

Ah, I'd love to wear a rainbow every day,
And tell the world that everything's OK,
But I'll try to carry off a little darkness on my back,
'Till things are brighter, I'm the Man In Black.

[ignatius]

70. I had forgotten about this song..John was a champion

of the downtrodden and will be sorely missed.

Have you ever heard his version of Sunday Mornin' Coming Down. He gets the feeling of loneliness right from his soul.

RIP, Big John

[Enraged_Ape]

80. His version of Sunday Mornin' Coming Down...

is one of my favorite songs ever.

Johnny Cash didn't just sing a song. He made you feel every word of it. He was so brilliantly talented in that way.

[NIGHT TRIPPER]

75. GREAT song !!

just copied and pasted it
He did represent all of us,- not just those of us who have it "together"

[RetroLounge]

60. This is just so sad...

:cry:

[latebloomer]

61. guess he didn't want to live without his June

I hope there is an afterlife so they can be together.

Incredible spirit. Wonderful artist.

Rest in peace.

[AmandaRuth]

62. i just woke up and saw this

i can't stop crying. Ring of Fire is the best song ever written and recorded imho

RIP, Johnny, you will be sorely missed

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

64. he said it best on 'unchained'

I don't want no aggravation

When my train has left the station

If you're there or not, I may not even know

Have a round and remember

Things we did that weren't so tender
Let the train blow the whistle when I go

[suegeo]

65. Sad

I really enjoyed his music and his attitude.

[Davis_X_Machina]

66. If Abe Lincoln had gone into music...

..he'd have been Johnny Cash, and If Johnny Cash had gone into politics, he'd have been Abe Lincoln.

Vi ayn mensch! May his memory be for us a blessing, zichrono livracha.

[PopSixSquish]

67. I'm Heartbroken...

My father and I are both huge Johnny Cash fans. I'm listening to "Ghost Riders in the Sky" right now.

The angels were glad to see you coming Johnny, give my regards to June.

[nolabels]

68. The Legend of the Hammer, John Henry's Hammer

http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/SongUnid/0F3E8B6BC4BC8B5948256D33001900AC

The Legend of John Henry's Hammer

(snip)
Then the section foreman said hey hammer swinger, i see you brought you own hammer boy, but what else can all those muscles do?
and he said, I can turn a jack, i can lay a track, i can pick a shovel too
(can you swing a hammer boy?)
i can i'll do anything oyu hire me to

now aint you something so high and mighty with your muscles, just go ahead pick up that hammer, pick up the hammer

he said get a rusty spike and swing it down three times, i'll pay you a nickel a day for every inch you sink it to, go on and do what you say you can do

With a steep nose hammer on a four foot switch panel, John Henry raised it back till it touched his heels, then the spike went through the cross tie and it split it half in two, 35 cents a fay for driven steel,
(sewat sweat boy, sweat, you owe me two more swings)
I was born for driven steel

Well John Henry hammered in the mountain, he'd give a grunt and he'd give groan with every swing, the women folks for miles around, heard him and come down, to watch him make the cold steel ring, lord what a swinger, just listen to that cold steel ring,
(snip)

[suegeo]

69. Bono on Cash's album from awhile back

Every man knows he’s a sissy compared to John Cash. What most do not know is that this most mighty of men was once nearly slain by an emu. I know this because Johnny told me on a tour of his ranch. I felt a lot better about myself as a man on hearing this.

U2’s Bono on album liner of “Essential Johnny Cash”

[Barrett808]

71. KEXP.ORG is playing (webcasting) a lot of Johnny today

In tribute:

www.kexp.org

[baldguy]

72. this deserves a kick

[opiate69]

73. How I will always picture him...

[Sterling]

74. He was my cousin.

2nd cousin on my moms side actually. Never met him but always enjoyed his work.

[Dancing_Dave]

76. No one can replace him, he was a unique musical genius.

He was truely a great authentic left American folk singer...and even more than that he was so unique that it's impossible to imagine anyone else filling his shoes. Like when John Lennon died. :nopity:

[montana_hazeleyes]

77. Good-Bye to a legend

Johnny Cash is a person known by people of all walks of life and ages and races and respected and will be missed very much.

[freetempe]

78. My favorite Jonny Cash song...

I have to write it as I listen and drink a beer for Johnny...

FOLSOM PRISON BLUES

I hear the train a' comin,
Its rollin round the bend.
And I ain't seen the sunshine,
since... I don't know when.
I'm stuck in Folsom Prison,
that time keeps draggin on.
But that train keeps a' rollin,
on down to San Antoine.

When I was just a baby,
my momma 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 blowin,
I hang my head and cry.

I bet there's rich folks eatin,
from a fancy dining car.
Their probably drinkin coffee,
and smoking big cigars.
Well I know I had it comin,
I know I can't be free.
But those people keep a' movin,
and that's what tortures me.

Well if they freed me from this prison,
if that railroad train was mine,
I bet I'd move it on
a little farther down the line.
Far from Folsom Prison,
thats where I want to stay.
And I'd let that lonesome whistle,
blow my blues away.


God bless you Johnny. I will miss you.

[Piperay]

79. Very sad news...

I believe though that now he is reunited with his beloved wife June for eternity. O8)

[dbt]

81. Someone FINALLY has described Cash correctly!

Merle Kilgore (long-time associate and co-writer, with June, of "ring Of Fire") said yesterday:

"He was the truth."

Ain't that about right!!!!

:yourock:
dbt