Why I Love Johnny Cash
I hear the train a comin'
It's rolling round the bend
And I ain't seen the sunshine since I don't know when,
I'm stuck in Folsom prison, and time keeps draggin' on
But that train keeps a rollin' on down to San Antone..
Mike’s dad would come home from a long, hot day at the weld shop. As I remember he was not much for niceties at that moment. His son was my best buddy. We would be sitting at his kitchen table engaged in another marathon round of Stratomatic Baseball or flip football. Frank would walk through the room without a word. I liked to call him “Frank”, although only to his son, just as a matter of irritation. Mike often stated that we should show more respect, and so of course I would try hard not to. Anyhow, the man had a ritual at that time of the day. He would crank up the stereo, full blast, and listen to Johnny Cash for an hour or two. It was an old, stack-type 33 rpm record player, which allowed him to listen to half-a-dozen albums in succession.
Frank was my introduction to the Man In Black. I remember the horror of “A Boy Named Sue”, “Look At Them Beans” and “Ring Of Fire”. We could hear him showering and singing to “One Piece At A Time”, and when we could stand it no longer and seem forced to leave the house and find something else to do. The man was not stupid.
I hated Johnny Cash.
Frank was also my introduction to fatherhood. My father passed away when I was 9, and what I could remember about him was not pleasant. I had a step-dad, but we never gelled into a family. Some of my friend had intact families but their fathers seemed to be hollow characters. They were absent, and the moms did the raising of the kids. Not so with Frank. My buddies and I tried to shape him into a caricature, because, well….that is what pre-adolescent boys tend to do. And we viewed Frank as a Fred Flintstone type. He had a really loud mouth, contrasting with his quiet little wife. Sometimes he tended to curse. And even if you were not interested, you always heard Frank’s opinion. We poked gentle fun at his slicked-back pompadour. And, also toward his affinity for Johnny Cash music…
When I was just a baby my mama 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 blowing, I hang my head and cry..
Often I would hang out at his house, eating supper or playing games or simply watching the interaction. They did not pamper me, but they at least tolerated me. I remember one time Frank showed me his bank deposit receipts, kept crinkled in his wallet. These were monies he was saving to one day buy a house. Looking back, I do not think he ever saved enough to actually make the purchase. And I remember that Frank would not attend church, although there was a big Baptist church directly behind his house. I faintly remember he said they were all a “bunch of asses”. His wife began to attend for a few Sundays. Then one bright Sunday afternoon, Frank walked out to his driveway to discover that some anonymous church-attender had backed into his 55 Chevy, leaving a huge and ugly dent across the side. Just starting to think seriously about church myself, I was curious about his response. Interestingly, he did not blow his stack. He simply resolved to park the car in his yard, as closely as possible to the church, with the ruined side in full view of the congregants. As I remember, he never traded and he never repaired the old car. And he always parked it in that very special spot for Sunday mornings. And he never attended church.
I bet there's rich folks eating in a fancy dining car
They're probably drinkin' coffee and smoking big cigars.
Well I know I had it coming, I know I can't be free
But those people keep a movin'
And that's what tortures me...
Frank would serve as quarterback for Mike and I, and he would actually do a pretty good job for an old, fat guy. One time he brought me along for his family vacation at Calloway Gardens. I thought it funny how he would prod his wife to steal tomatoes from the show gardens. He instilled in me a love for Alabama Crimson Tide Football, probably his greatest passion. Sometimes Frank would sit in the living room and talk with me. Simply talk.
The last time I saw Frank was shortly after High School Graduation. Mike and I had drifted apart, which sometimes happens with friends. I was standing in the living room, and Frank was lying on his easy chair. I can’t recall if he was in his t-shirt and polka dot underwear, but it would have been a fitting picture. He knew I was planning to study for the ministry. And, as I recall, he said something like the following: “David, I remember you ever since you were a little boy, hanging around here playing ball and eatin’ my food. I’ve watched you grow up. You know I don’t go to church. But that don’t mean I don’t believe in God.” Then he hesitated, and said, “David, you’re a good boy. I’m proud of you.”
I love Johnny Cash.
10.31.07 (10:54 am) [
edit]
posted by:
emerging (
reply)
post date:
10.31.07 (9:06 am)
How did you get from neighborhood hooligan to minister? :)
posted by:
surrogate (
reply)
post date:
10.31.07 (10:23 am)
This is one damn fine post. Brought tears to my eyes.
posted by:
LadyG (
reply)
post date:
10.31.07 (10:40 am)
Excellent post PD.
posted by:
bawdy (
reply)
post date:
10.31.07 (11:45 am)
I enjoyed this one. Frank sounds like an everyman, a type we could use more of.
posted by:
auntconi (
reply)
post date:
10.31.07 (12:32 pm)
Oh WOW! Surrogate took the words right out of my mouth! ... and tears to the eyes, too ~ WOW!
“David, you’re a good boy. I’m proud of you.”
((hugs))
posted by:
fractalmom (
reply)
post date:
10.31.07 (12:48 pm)
i think you are a good person. and probably, so was Mike's dad. as to Johnny Cash, I was raised on music from the man in black.
and it was a good post.
posted by:
mimi (
reply)
post date:
10.31.07 (4:10 pm)
this is just beautiful..what a wonderful tribute to all of you...frank, you and Johnny Cash! xoxox
posted by:
FinalyFree (
reply)
post date:
10.31.07 (6:50 pm)
Thank God for men like Frank!
Very nice Pastor, very nice.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
11.01.07 (4:52 am)
Reply to: emerging
Oh, I'm still a hooligan at heart. I have the most respect, liking, and tolerance for folk like Frank. And, the least for those pompous and disingenous of heart. Perhaps Frank was a blowhard, but within he was a good person.
I suspect you have a bit of such "hooligan" in yourself. I read your blog!
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
11.01.07 (4:57 am)
Reply to: surrogate
Quite nice of you. Thinking about Frank, he has no idea the positive impact upon my life. As I get older, I get of wondering about such persons. A school teacher. Neighbor. A gentle little man who swept the store fronts and had time to converse with a little kid. It is interesting how common people, in common ways, can have a profound and good influence. I truly need to find some of these persons, and tell them thanks, before it becomes too late to do so.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
11.01.07 (4:59 am)
Reply to: LadyG
Glad you enjoyed it. I'll be by the store to purchase flowers for Frank and his wife. They will have to be crimson red and white- the school colors of his favorite football team.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
11.01.07 (5:00 am)
Reply to: bawdy
People around here seem to work so very hard to not be perceived as an everyman the likes of Frank. That's too bad. I'll take Frank over a stuffed-shirt pretender, anytime.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
11.01.07 (5:02 am)
Reply to: auntconi
Alright. Let's stop the crying. You want tears? I'll give you a sermon. "Please, please Dave. Stop the sermon. No more." I get that response most Sundays.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
11.01.07 (5:05 am)
Reply to: fractalmom
Raised on Johnny Cash? I wonder if you liked him at the time? I enjoyed, or at least pretended to enjoy, Creedance, Steppenwolf, Tommy James, Foghat, etc. But not Johnny Cash.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
11.01.07 (5:07 am)
Reply to: mimi
I remember sitting on the sofa at Frank's house and watching Johnny Cash in concert, on a black-and-white television. There was a worship-like reverence the whole time. Frank was a fun guy.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
11.01.07 (5:08 am)
Reply to: FinalyFree
A word of thanks to God for the blessings of Frank would be quite fitting. I'll make sure to do that, today. Thank you for the reminder.
posted by:
fractalmom (
reply)
post date:
11.01.07 (6:16 am)
Reply to: PastorDave
how funny is life? I did like him. And I was the wild child hippy rock and roller who had my own hard rock band. I listened to janis joplin and ian both, jimi, crosby and nash long before neil young was around, the who, beatles, dylan, steppenwolf, led zepplin, ten years after, grand funk. you name them, i had their albums. but i also bought johnny cash.
i have always linked music to my moods and the times of my life. and there were just times when you needed to hear
"i hear that train a comin, it's comin round the bend, and I ain't seen the sunshine, since I don't know when....."
maybe, in a weird way, cash kept me from being my own daughter if you get my drift. i always knew, through him, that there was a dark side that tempted me, and that would be my fall if I allowed it.
wonder if he had really any idea what an impact his life/songs had on so many people, whether they hated him or not?
now paul mccartney, **Grin*** I listen to when I want to feel good, cause, hey, how can you NOT when it's paul?
posted by:
jentlejiraffe (
reply)
post date:
11.01.07 (9:23 am)
tears here too. that is an amazing post. Thank you so much!
posted by:
auntconi (
reply)
post date:
11.01.07 (12:13 pm)
Reply to: PastorDave
Yeh, riiiiiight! I'm not buying that one!
But I will check out a sermon or two, just for my own review! :D
posted by:
lyinghere (
reply)
post date:
11.02.07 (3:22 am)
sorry that this is unrelated ...
thank you for your post
our differences should be used to teach ourselves and others.. not used as weapons of hatred and abuse. thank you for your interest and any fair input is appreciated,
your shared opinion is certainly welcome.
posted by:
auntconi (
reply)
post date:
11.02.07 (6:15 pm)
umm, should I bring my Johnny Cash cd's when I stop by later on?
posted by:
kurtmaddox (
reply)
post date:
11.04.07 (6:27 pm)
I'm a huge JC fan! His last recording with producer Rick Rubin, IMHO, are some of the most profound recordings from an American artist EVER!
posted by:
emerging (
reply)
post date:
11.04.07 (7:42 pm)
Johnny Cash - Jesus Christ (same initials) - coincidence? I think not.
posted by:
surrogate (
reply)
post date:
11.04.07 (7:44 pm)
Reply to: emerging
John Coltrane? Johnny Cash? Justin Cimberlake?
posted by:
surrogate (
reply)
post date:
11.05.07 (4:21 am)
Reply to: emerging
John Coltrane? Johnny Cash? Justin Cimberlake?
posted by:
eraserhead667 (
reply)
post date:
11.06.07 (8:15 am)
My appreciation for Johnny grows each year. My band does Folsom Prison and Ring Of Fire, and I do two of his songs in my solo act- Delia's Gone and Sunday Morning Coming Down. His later albums were as excellent as the old stuff, and his honesty and soul will be inspiring musicians and non-musicians alike for a very long time. To me, listening to Johnny is very much like having a loving grandfather sing you to sleep. I'll always love him.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
11.06.07 (4:38 pm)
Reply to: eraserhead667
Just when I was thinking you were of a harder type of music. I would really like to hear some of your music. Any links?
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
11.06.07 (4:39 pm)
Reply to: surrogate
The last guy works down the road, at the Circle K. And I've heard him singing A Boy Named Sue as he stacked the Pepsi cases.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
11.06.07 (4:40 pm)
Reply to: emerging
Perhaps Johnny Cash would be the AntiChrist?
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
11.06.07 (4:41 pm)
Reply to: kurtmaddox
My only criticism of Johnny Cash is that he can't sing. Can't really carry a tune, you have to admit. Funny how he can be so good, which he truly is, yet be unable to sing very well. Maybe there is hope for my singing career.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
11.06.07 (4:43 pm)
Reply to: lyinghere
Thanks. You've been around here on t-Blog for quite a while, and I'm glad we've finally connected. Please keep up the good blogging!
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
11.06.07 (4:43 pm)
Reply to: auntconi
Please bring your 8-tracks, instead.
posted by:
auntconi (
reply)
post date:
11.06.07 (6:14 pm)
Reply to: PastorDave
8-tracks? What is that? Model train stuff?
All I have are CDs ~ Cash, Nelson, Presley; the country classics. Shall I bring them? What am I saying, I'll have them anyway as I'll be listening as I travel.
I'll bet you could do well as a sing-a-long to some of Cash's songs ~ should we do some karaoke ???
:0
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
11.06.07 (6:31 pm)
Reply to: auntconi
I assure you that, one time in my life, I had an 8-Track player in my car. They were actually pretty neat. You had 4 tracks, with 4 songs each, and could switch between tracks. I still see the tapes at yard sales. All of this is, no doubt, from way before your time.
posted by:
auntconi (
reply)
post date:
11.06.07 (6:45 pm)
Reply to: PastorDave
cough,cough ~ well, obviously way before my time ;)
posted by:
kurtmaddox (
reply)
post date:
11.07.07 (4:34 pm)
As you and I have to do from time-to-time -- we'll have to agree to disagree on whether or not J.C. can sing! lol! You might consult a vocal training expert in regard to the clarity and pitch of Johnny Cash's singing before getting too hopeful about your own pitch-less performances ;-) I think you'll find that the young to middle-aged Johnny Cash had some bonifide chops for his range. If he'd been classically trained, he had the natural voice be a professional vocalist -- at least that's what my voice experts say.
Trust me, as a former small church pastor, I've heard lots of folks who can't carry a tune in a bucket and J.C. ain't one of 'em :-)
posted by:
Robin (
reply)
post date:
12.28.07 (10:20 pm)
That was a great post.
My dad was not a Christian when we were little, none of us were. He loved Johnny Cash. My mom would punch him in the chest if he got to warbling too loud when listening/singing to Johnny.
Last year at Christmas I could not figure out what to getfor my dad. I finally got him a big old CD collection of JC. I don't think he listened to it. I asked him this year, why, I thought I remember you liked or loved JC? My dad said he didn't anymore after he became a Christian. I thought that was pretty wierd and senseless. My dad is a clueless individual, christian or not.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
12.29.07 (1:12 pm)
Reply to: Robin
I know nothing firsthand about the situation, but it sounds like somehow your dad has gotten himself connected with a rigid, fundamentalist brand of Christianity. It's a shame that some people, in the name of Jesus, want to squeeze as much fun as they possibly can out of life. How? By labeling moral and ethical and social issues with clear, unbending lines of black and white. Take country music, for instance. Where in the Bible does it say that country music is sinful? I'm sure there is a fundamentalist, somewhere, who can quote me a scripture on this subject. But I'm equally sure no style of music, in and of itself, is a sin. Some country music involves lyrics and performers that are definitely connected with wrong, and we do well to stay away. However, one surely cannot say, point-blank, that Johnny Cash music is unChristian. The guy was a puzzle. Deeply religious, yet deeply flawed. Gospel music, and drinking music. I'm pretty sure the guy knew the Lord. Some of his music clearly reflects an intimacy with God.
Your dad should give Johnny another try.
