On this day (September 12) in 2003, the world lost an icon. Johnny Cash passed away at the age of 71 leaving behind children, grandchildren, and a musical legacy that will live forever. Fans remember Cash as a singer, songwriter, guitarist, and advocate for the downtrodden and forgotten. Today, 21 years after his passing, we mourn the loss of an American original.
Cash may be gone but, as long as country and folk music continue to move the hearts and souls of listeners around the world, he will never be forgotten. His songs, attitude, and outlook on life are alive and well today in those who follow in his footsteps. Today, we’ll look back on his legendary career with a few of the most pivotal and popular songs from his nearly fifty-year career.
“Cry! Cry! Cry!”—Johnny Cash’s Debut Single
Johnny Cash finished his stint in the United States Air Force and came home with the dream of pursuing a music career. He inked a deal with Sun Records. However, label executives weren’t excited about the songs he brought with him. Told to come back with something more marketable, he went home and wrote “Cry! Cry! Cry!” and returned the following day.
[RELATED: The Story Behind Johnny Cash’s Debut 1955 Singles “Hey Porter” and “Cry! Cry! Cry!”]
The song became his first single, released with “Hey Porter” as the B-side in 1955. It went to No. 14 on the country chart. Two years later, it appeared on his debut full-length With His Hot and Blue Guitar. The early success of the single opened many doors for Cash. So, it was more than his debut single. It was the beginning of a long and storied career.
“I Walk the Line”—Cash’s First No. 1 Hit
As Johnny Cash’s star continued to rise, he found himself on the road. More specifically, he found himself on the road with his Sun Records labelmate Elvis Presley. The young King of Rock and Roll drew throngs of female fans. As a result, Cash’s new bride, Vivian Liberto, had some misgivings about him being away from home. She worried that the temptation he faced would be too much and he would not be able to remain faithful. He wrote “I Walk the Line” as a promise to her that he would not step outside of their marriage.
[RELATED: Johnny Cash Released His First No. 1 Single “I Walk the Line” on This Day in 1956]
“I Walk the Line” was Cash’s third single for Sun Records. He released it in 1956 backed with “Get Rhythm” and it became his first No. 1 on the Billboard country chart. It also landed at No. 17 on the all-genre chart, giving him his first taste of crossover success.
”Folsom Prison Blues”—Cash’s Iconic Signature Song
Johnny Cash wrote “Folsom Prison Blues” while stationed in Germany. After watching the film Behind the Walls of Folsom Prison, he began to draw comparisons between prison life and life in the military. Initially, the song was the B-side of his second single, “So Doggone Lonesome” which peaked at No. 4 on the country chart. Both songs later appeared on his debut album.
[RELATED: On This Day in 1955, Johnny Cash Recorded His Signature Song “Folsom Prison Blues” for the First Time at Sun Studios in Memphis]
More than a decade later, Cash recorded a new version of the song behind the walls of the titular penitentiary for his 1968 live album At Folsom Prison. He released it as the sole single from the live set. This version of the song would go to No. 1 on the country chart. It was also a top 40 hit landing at No. 32 on the all-genre chart.
“A Boy Named Sue”—Johnny Cash’s Biggest Crossover Hit
“Folsom Prison Blues” wouldn’t be the only song made famous by a prison performance. Cash performed the Shel Silverstein-penned “A Boy Named Sue” for the first time while recording his 1969 live album At San Quentin. Later, he released the song as the album’s first single. It went to No. 1 on the country chart and No. 2 on the all-genre chart. This was Cash’s biggest crossover hit and first and only top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 survey.
[RELATED: Watch Johnny Cash Perform “A Boy Named Sue” for the First Time Behind the Walls of San Quentin State Prison]
“Hurt”—Johnny Cash’s Final Single
In the final years of his life and career, Johnny Cash partnered with Rick Rubin to record a series of albums for American Recordings. American IV: The Man Comes Around was the fourth in this series and the last album released before Cash’s passing. It dropped in November 2002. “Hurt” was the sole single from the collection. Released in March of 2003, the song didn’t see much chart success. It peaked at No. 56 on the country chart and failed to hit the all-genre survey. However, in this case, chart performance is irrelevant.
[RELATED: Behind the Meaning of “Hurt,” by Nine Inch Nails, Johnny Cash]
Of all the bands for Cash to cover, Nine Inch Nails doesn’t seem like the best pick. However, when fans heard the aging icon singing the song in his style, they couldn’t deny its power. The video shows Cash in some of his final days. Shot in the derelict House of Cash museum in Nashville and directed by Nine Inch Nails collaborator Mark Romanek, it makes the song’s lyrics feel even more poignant.
“She Sang Sweet Baby James”—The Legend Lives On
Earlier this year, John Carter Cash and David Ferguson dusted off a collection of recordings from the ‘90s and re-worked them. They stripped the full-band songs down to Cash’s guitar and vocal tracks, added new instrumentation, and created the album titled Songwriter.
[RELATED: Co-Producers John Carter Cash and David “Fergie” Ferguson Share Their Thoughts on the Upcoming Johnny Cash Album ‘Songwriter’]
While not released as an official single, “She Sang Sweet Baby James” is a highlight from the album.
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