| Johnny Cash Lyrics |
| A Boy Named Sue Five Feet High and Risin' Flesh And Blood Folsom Prison Blues Hurt I Still Miss Someone I Walk the Line In the Jailhouse Now Jackson Long Black Veil Man In Black Orange Blossom Special Ring Of Fire Sunday Morning Coming Down The One on the Right Was on the Left The Wall Were You There When They Crucified My Lord? |
| A Boy Named Sue My daddy left home when I was three and he didn't leave much to Ma and me, just this old guitar and an empty bottle of booze. Now, I don't blame him cause he run and hid, but the meanest thing that he ever did was before he left, he went and named me 'Sue.' Well, he must o' thought that it was quite a joke and it got a lot of laughs from a' lots of folk, it seems I had to fight my whole life through. Some gal would giggle and I'd get red and some guy'd laugh and I'd bust his head, I tell ya, life ain't easy for a boy named 'Sue.' Well, I grew up quick and I grew up mean, my fist got hard and my wits got keen, I'd roam from town to town to hide my shame. But I made me a vow to the moon and stars that I'd search the honky-tonks and bars and kill that man that give me that awful name. Well, it was Gatlinburg in mid-July and I just hit town and my throat was dry, I thought I'd stop and have myself a brew. At an old saloon on a street of mud, there at a table, dealing stud sat the dirty, mangy dog that named me 'Sue.' Well, I knew that snake was my own sweet dad from a worn-out picture that my mother'd had, and I knew that scar on his cheek and his evil eye. He was big and bent and gray and old, and I looked at him and my blood ran cold and I said: "My name is 'Sue!' how do you do! Now you gonna die!" Well, I hit him hard right between the eyes and he went down but, to my surprise, he come up with a knife and cut off a piece of my ear. But I busted a chair right across his teeth and we crashed through the wall and into the street kicking and a' gouging in the mud and the blood and the beer. I tell ya, I've fought tougher men but I really can't remember when, he kicked like a mule and he bit like a crocodile. I heard him laugh and then I heard him cuss, he went for his gun and I pulled mine first, he stood there looking at me and I saw him smile. And he said: "Son, this world is rough and if a man's gonna make it, he's gotta be tough and I know I wouldn't be there to help ya along. So I give ya that name and I said good-bye, I knew you'd have to get tough or die and it's that name that helped to make you strong." He said: 'Now you just fought one hell of a fight and I know you hate me, and you got the right to kill me now, and I wouldn't blame you if you do. But ya ought to thank me, before I die for the gravel in ya guts and the spit in ya eye cause I'm the son-of-a-bitch that named you 'Sue'.' I got all choked up and I threw down my gun and I called him my pa, and he called me his son, and I come away with a different point of view. And I think about him, now and then, every time I try and every time I win, and if I ever have a son, I think I'm gonna name him Bill or George! Anything but Sue! I still hate that name! Five Feet High and Risin' How high's the water, mama? Two feet high and risin'. How high's the water, papa? Two feet high and risin'. We can make it to the road in a homemade boat, that's the only thing we got left that'll float. It's already over all the wheat and the oats, two feet high and rising. How high's the water, mama? Three feet high and risin'. How high's the water, papa? Three feet high and risin'. Well, the hives are gone, I've lost my bees, the chickens are sleepin' in the willow trees. Cow's in water up past her knees, three feet high and risin'. How high's the water, mama? Four feet high and risin'. How high's the water, papa? Four feet high and risin'. Hey, come look through the window pane, the bus is comin', gonna take us to the train. Looks like we'll be blessed with a little more rain, four feet high and risin'. How high's the water, mama? Five feet high and risin'. How high's the water, papa? Five feet high and risin'. Well the rails are washed out north of town, we gotta head for higher ground. We can't come back till the water comes down, Five feet high and risin'. Well, it's five feet high and risin'. Flesh And Blood Beside a singing mountain stream where the willow grew, where the silver leaf of maple sparkled in the morning dew, I braided twigs of willows made a string of buckeye beads, but flesh and blood needs flesh and blood and you're the one I need. Flesh and blood needs flesh and blood and you're the one I need. I leaned against a bark of birch and I breathed the honey dew, I saw a north-bound flock of geese against a sky of baby blue. Beside the lily pads, I carved a whistle from a reed. Mother Nature's quite a lady but you're the one I need. Flesh and blood needs flesh and blood and you're the one I need. A cardinal sang just for me and I thanked him for the song, then the sun went slowly down the west and I had to move along. These were some of the things on which my mind and spirit feed, but flesh and blood needs flesh and blood and you're the one I need. Flesh and blood needs flesh and blood and you're the one I need. So when this day was ended, I was still not satisfied for I knew everything I touched would wither and would die. And love is all that will remain and grow from all these seeds. Mother Nature's quite a lady but you're the one I need. Flesh and blood needs flesh and blood and you're the one I need. Folsom Prison Blues I hear the train a-coming, it's rolling round the bend and I ain't seen the sunshine since I don't know when, I'm stuck at Folsom Prison and time keeps dragging on. But that train keeps a-rolling on down to San Antone. 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 blowing, I hang my head and cry. I bet there's rich folk eating in a fancy dining car. They're probably drinking coffee and smoking big cigars, but I know I had it coming, I know I can't be free, but those people keep a-moving, 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 all a little farther down the line, far from Folsom Prison, that's where I want to stay, and I'd let that lonesome whistle blow my blues away. Hurt I hurt myself today to see if I still feel. I focus on the pain, the only thing that's real The needle tears a hole, the old familiar sting. Try to kill it all away, but I remember everything. What have I become, my sweetest friend? Everyone I know goes away in the end. And you could have it all, my empire of dirt. I will let you down, I will make you hurt. I wear this crown of thorns upon my liar's chair, full of broken thoughts I cannot repair. Beneath the stains of time, the feelings disappear. You are someone else, I am still right here. What have I become, my sweetest friend? Everyone I know goes away in the end. And you could have it all, my empire of dirt. I will let you down, I will make you hurt. If I could start again, a million miles away, I would keep myself, I would find a way. I Still Miss Someone At my door the leaves are falling, a cold wild wind has come. Sweethearts walk by together and I still miss someone. I go out on a party and look for a little fun, but I find a darkened corner because I still miss someone. Oh, I never got over those blues eyes, I see them every where. I miss those arms that held me when all the love was there. I wonder if she's sorry for leaving what we'd begun. There's someone for me somewhere and I still miss someone. Oh, I never got over those blues eyes, I see them every where. I miss those arms that held me when all the love was there. I wonder if she's sorry for leaving what we'd begun. There's someone for me somewhere and I still miss someone. I Walk The Line I keep a close watch on this heart of mine, I keep my eyes wide open all the time. I keep the ends out for the tie that binds. Because you're mine, I walk the line. I find it very, very easy to be true, I find myself alone when each day is through. Yes, I'll admit I'm a fool for you, because you're mine, I walk the line. As sure as night is dark and day is light, I keep you on my mind both day and night. And happiness I've known proves that it's right, because you're mine, I walk the line. You've got a way to keep me on your side, you give me cause for love that I can't hide. For you I know I'd even try to turn the tide, because you're mine, I walk the line. In the Jailhouse Now He's in the jailhouse now, he's in the jailhouse now. I told him once or twice to quit playing cards and shooting dice, he's in the jailhouse now. Well I had a friend named Ramblin' Bob who used to steal, gamble and rob, he thought he was the smartest guy in town. But I found out last Monday that Bob got locked up Sunday, they got him in the jailhouse way down town. He's in the jailhouse now, he's in the jailhouse now. I told him once or twice to quit playing cards and shooting dice, he's in the jailhouse now. Well I went out last Tuesday, met a girl named Susie. I told her I was the swellest man around. Well, she started in to spend my money, she started in to call me honey, we took in every honkytonk in town. We're in the jailhouse now, we're in the jailhouse now. They told us once or twice to quit playing cards and shooting dice, we're in the jailhouse now. Jackson We got married in a fever, hotter than a pepper sprout. We've been talking 'bout Jackson, ever since the fire went out. I'm going to Jackson, I'm gonna mess around. Yeah, I'm going to Jackson, look out, Jackson town. Well, go on down to Jackson, go ahead and wreck your health. Go play your hand you big-talking man, make a big fool of yourself, yeah, go to Jackson, go comb your hair. Honey, I'm gonna snowball Jackson. See if I care. When I breeze into that city, people gonna stoop and bow. (Hah!) All them women gonna make me, teach 'em what they don't know how, I'm going to Jackson, you turn-a loose-a my coat. Cause I'm going to Jackson. "Goodbye," that's all she wrote. But they'll laugh at you in Jackson, and I'll be dancing on a Pony Keg. They'll lead you 'round town like a scalded hound with your tail tucked between your legs. Yeah, go to Jackson, you big-talkin' man. And I'll be waiting in Jackson, behind my Jaypan Fan. Well now, we got married in a fever, hotter than a pepper sprout. We've been talking 'bout Jackson, ever since the fire went out. I'm going to Jackson, and that's a fact. Yeah, we're going to Jackson, ain't never coming back. Well, we got married in a fever, hotter than a pepper sprout… Long Black Veil Ten years ago, on a cold dark night, someone was killed ‘neath the town hall light. There were few at the scene, but they all agreed that the slayer who ran looked a lot like me. The judge said, son what is your alibi? If you were somewhere else, then you won't have to die. I spoke not a word, though it meant my life, for I'd been in the arms of my best friends wife. She walks these hills in a long black veil, she visits my grave when the night winds wail. Nobody knows, nobody sees, nobody knows but me. Oh, the scaffold is high and eternity's near, she stood in the crowd and shed not a tear. But late at night, when the north wind blows, in a long black veil, she cries o'er my bones. She walks these hills in a long black veil, she visits my grave when the night winds wail. Nobody knows, nobody sees, nobody knows but me. 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, living 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 time. 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 doing 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 ought to 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 mourning, 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, believing that the Lord was on their side. I wear it for another hundred thousand who have died, believing that we all were on their side. Well, there's things that never will be right, I know and things need changing everywhere you go. But until 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 are brighter, I'm the man in black. Orange Blossom Special Look a-yonder coming, coming down that railroad track. Hey, look a-yonder coming, coming down that railroad track. It's the Orange Blossom Special, bringing my baby back. Well, I'm going down to Florida and get some sand in my shoes, or maybe Californy and get some sand in my shoes. I'll ride that Orange Blossom Special and lose these New York blues. "Say man, when you going back to Florida?" "When am I going back to Florida? I don't know, don't reckon I ever will." "Ain't you worried about getting your nourishment in New York?" "Well, I don't care if I do-die-do-die-do-die-do-die." Hey, talk about a-rambling, she's the fastest train on the line. Hey, talk about a-travelling, she's the fastest train on the line. It's that Orange Blossom Special, rolling down the seaboard line. Ring Of Fire Love is a burning thing and it makes a firey ring. Bound by wild desire, I fell into a ring of fire. I fell into a burning ring of fire, I went down, down, down and the flames went higher. And it burns, burns, burns, the ring of fire, the ring of fire. I fell into a burning ring of fire, I went down, down, down and the flames went higher. And it burns, burns, burns, the ring of fire, the ring of fire. The taste of love is sweet when hearts like ours meet. I fell for you like a child, oh, but the fire went wild. I fell into a burning ring of fire, I went down, down, down and the flames went higher. And it burns, burns, burns, the ring of fire, the ring of fire. I fell into a burning ring of fire, I went down, down, down and the flames went higher. And it burns, burns, burns, the ring of fire, the ring of fire. And it burns, burns, burns, the ring of fire, the ring of fire… Sunday Morning Coming Down Well, I woke up Sunday morning with no way to hold my head that didn't hurt. And the beer I had for breakfast wasn't bad so I had one more for dessert. Then I fumbled in my closet through my clothes and found my cleanest dirty shirt, then I washed my face and combed my hair stumbled down the stairs to meet the day. I smoked my mind the night before with cigarettes and songs that I'd been picking, cut I lit my first and watched a small boy cussing at a can that he'd been kicking. I crossed the empty street, caught the Sunday smell of someone frying chicken and it took me back to something that I'd lost somewhere, somehow along the way. On a Sunday morning sidewalk, I'm wishing, Lord, that I was stone. Cause there's something in a Sunday that makes a body feel alone. And there ain't nothing short of dying that's half as lonesome as the sound of a sleeping city sidewalk and Sunday morning coming down. In the park I saw a daddy with a laughing little girl that he'd been swinging. And I stopped beside a Sunday school, listened to the songs that they were singing. I headed down the road, somewhere far away a lonely bell was ringing and it echoed through the canyon like a disappearing dream of yesterday. On a Sunday morning sidewalk, I'm wishing, Lord, that I was stone. Cause there's something in a Sunday that makes a body feel alone. And there ain't nothing short of dying that's half as lonesome as the sound of a sleeping city sidewalk and Sunday morning coming down. The One on the Right Was on the Left There once was a musical troupe, a picking singing folk group. They sang the mountain ballads and the folk songs of our land. They were long on musical ability, folks thought they would go far, but political incompatibility led to their downfall. Well, the one on the right was on the left nd the one in the middle was on the right and the one on the left was in the middle and the guy in the rear was a Methodist. This musical aggregation toured the entire nation, singing the traditional ballads and the folk songs of our land. They performed with great virtuosity and soon they were the rage, but political animosity prevailed upon the stage. Well, the one on the right was on the left and the one in the middle was on the right and the one on the left was in the middle and the guy in the rear burned his driver's license. Well the curtain had ascended, a hush fell on the crowd as thousands there were gathered to hear the folk songs of our land. But they took their politics seriously and that night at the concert hall, as the audience watched deliriously, they had a free-for-all. Well, the one on the right was on the bottom and the one in the middle was on the top and the one on the left got a broken arm and the guy in the rear, said, "Oh dear." Now this should be a lesson if you plan to start a folk group- don't go mixing politics with the folk songs of our land. Just work on harmony and diction, play your banjo well and if you have political convictions, keep them to yourself. Now, the one on the left works in a bank and the one in the middle drives a truck. The one on the right's an all-night deejay and the guy in the rear got drafted. The Wall T here's a lot of strange men in cellblock ten, but the strangest of em' all was a friend of mine who spent his time staring at the wall, staring at the wall. In his hand was a note that his gal had wrote and it proves that crime don't pay. Was the very same gal he robbed and stole for, naming her weeding day, naming her weeding day. As he looked at the wall so strong and tall, I heard him softly curse: “Nobody at all ever climbed that wall but I'm gonna be the first, I'm gonna be the first. Well, the warden walked by and said, “Son don't try, I'd hate to see you fall. Cause there ain’t no doubt they'll carry you out if you ever touch that wall, if you ever touch that wall. Well a year’s gone by since he made his try, but I can still recall how hard he tried and the way he died but he never made that wall, he never made that wall. Well, there's never been a man who shook this camp, but I knew a man who tried. The newspapers called it a jailbreak plan but I know it was suicide, I know it was suicide. Were You There When They Crucified My Lord? Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble. Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Were you there when they nailed him to the cross? Were you there when they nailed him to the cross? Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble. Were you there when they nailed him to the cross? Were you there when they laid him in the tomb? Were you there when they laid him in the tomb? Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble. Were you there when they laid him in the tomb? Well, were you there when the stone was rolled away? Were you there when the stone was rolled away? Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble. Were you there when the stone was rolled away? |