I remember many years ago when I was still in seminary one
of my suitemates gave us the news that Johnny Cash had died. That statement did
not affect me, in fact, I didn’t know really who Johnny Cash was. Sadly, I was
living in Memphis at the time. It wasn’t until years later when Walk the Line was released into theaters
that I realized what I had been missing. Some of the shooting was no more than
a block from where I was living. It was because that movie came out that I
began to find my interest in Cash’s music. The first album I bought was this
two disc set released for the movie. I loved it, played it over and over, and I
memorized all the words. Thing is, those weren’t the first Cash songs I’d
heard. The first was actually for a TV commercial, the song was Hurt.
I knew of Nine Inch Nails, my brother was a big fan, but I really
wasn’t so I didn’t understand two important things about this song, first, is
was in fact Johnny Cash singing, second, it was by Trent Reznor. When I found
out, long after the movie had come out, I was even more in awe of this man who
was willing to remake songs that came after him. I was intrigued by a man who
loved music so much that he didn’t have to be the greatest, he loved music so
much that he was willing to make any good songs, regardless of when or who
wrote them.
Just think of my shock when I found out that he had six
albums worth of other people’s music. He called these albums American Recordings, today I will be
talking about the last one released before his death American IV: The Man Comes Around.
I have to admit that the reason I picked this album was
because of the song Hurt. I can’t help it, it is amazing. I am in good company
though, Trent Reznor, originally thinking the idea was campy, found the song
deeply emotional. The rest of us realized Cash might have just owned this song.
I think the song is so powerful because of Cash’s history, because of his life
story, a life of hurting himself and others. OK, so maybe he didn’t take it
from Reznor, however, he made it something new. Reznor considered the video art,
telling one newspaper, that it gave him chills just thinking about it. For me,
I really became a Nine Inch Nails fan after this Cash song, because I saw
something special, an artist wrote an amazingly personal song that was personal
for others. I respect the hell out of Reznor for his gift to music in this
song, but sadly I will always prefer Johnny Cash’s version.
Of course, if we were talking to Cash about this album he
would probably want to talk about The Man
Comes Around. The song that became the album title. One of his last songs
written, the entire back half of one album sleeve has a note written by Cash to
his listeners talking about why he wrote this song. In the letter he says that
he spent more time on this song than any other, and that this song started with
a dream where he visits the Queen Elizabeth II. The song is full of Biblical imagery,
a lot of stuff from Revelation, and one important line from Job. It tells the story
of Death walking amongst us after the apocalypse. This is the first time I have
heard the song so I don’t have a lot to say, however, it makes me wonder
sometimes if he is using some of this Album to say goodbye.
I love music that is about music, from the title of these
albums we can know that these were songs that Johnny Cash thought we should all
hear, or maybe just songs he always wanted to sing, but that they are a part of
our experience. I know that when I die I hope someone plays his version of
Danny Boy at my funeral. Maybe I will leave that to my readers, who knows? Though,
that is probably sometime away. Cash isn’t
afraid of anyone in this album, he sings Hank Williams, The Eagles, The
Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel, even Depeche Mode. He says good bye with the song We’ll Meet Again, it is important to
note that Cash’s American experience involves music written by and popularized
by British artists. Cash knew that we are best when we are willing to look to
the people who do things well, and learn from them. I think that is something
we should always remind ourselves. So if you ever get nervous that someone else
does something better than you remember that even Johnny Cash hurt himself one
day.
And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts,
And I looked and behold: a pale horse.
And his name, that sat on him, was Death.
And Hell followed with him.
