Poetic Prowess: The Best Lyrics From Johnny Cash’s New Album ‘Songwriter’

Waking up to a new Johnny Cash album in 2024 truly is an unexpected but awesome experience. Yesterday we got a new album of previously recorded but unreleased Johnny Cash songs. And while I was a bit hesitant at first, fearing a situation like like Harper Lee's family releasing Go Set A Watchmen against her earlier wishes, after listening to the project it's clear this isn't a money grab but a showcase of songs that were for some reason lost in time. All of the tracks were recorded in 1993 when Cash was between labels, just shortly before he met Rick Rubin and began creating the now iconic American Recordings . Given how successful the Rubin recordings were, these demos were shelved and only recently rediscovered by Cash's son John Carter Cash, who worked with David Ferguson, Vince Gill, Marty Stuart, Dan Auerbach, and others to create new musical backings to modernize and breathe new life into the songs while keeping the exact vocal renditions done by Johnny. Each song was a Johnny Cash solo write, and a great example of his poetic prowess that at times was overshadowed by his larger than life persona and cultural standing. As always, albums should be listened to in their entirety and this project is no exception, but I want to spotlight some of the best lyrics on this album. While some fans will argue with me on this, I believe few artists can continue to improve their songwriting skills late into their careers. My reasoning is simple: For their first few projects they have the entirety of their non-celebrity lives to pull from; experiences and hard times when they were nothing more than ordinary people with a dream. But once fame hits, their lives become completely different and those real life circumstances dry up or at least become much more sporadic. Add in the pressure to release new music every year or so and the well to dip into becomes constantly shallower. That's not to say great work is impossible late in a career but it's rare and Cash's Songwriter album is just that needle in the haystack. Here's some of my favorite lyrics from the project.

She Sang Sweet Baby James

The only difference in my life and hell are the flames So she sang "Sweet Baby James" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s27m8_CXArY

Spotlight

Spotlight, that's way too much Let there be upon the air a tender touch Let your magic velvet hue Bathe me in a gentle blue Softly so there's not a single tear in sight https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=778R2Tys2Ck

Like A Soldier

There are nights I don't remember
And pain it's been forgotten
And a lot of things I choose not to recall
There are faces that come to me
In my darkest secret memories
Faces that I wish, would not come back at all https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9l9fNNOkfFI

Sing It Pretty, Sue

But I won't ever tell a soul that we have ever met
I'll just be one of millions who'll give the praise you get
And maybe every year or so, I'll drop a card to you
To tell you I'm still listening, so, sing it pretty Sue https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPvXsmrv9Fs

Poor Valley Girl

June gave the world two daughters And a son with auburn curls And I thank God that he gave me This sweet Poor Valley Girl https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBjeERa18x4

Well Alright

The world's have full of women
And the worlds have full of men
And sometimes one or the other
Opens up to let one in
But the one I met at the laundromat
That dangerous, beautiful night
Said, "Yes, I do, and yes, I will"
And I said, "Well alright" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zumW9D47Ync