Rickety, aging Johnny Cash struck a nerve with the young and angry

Associated Press ^ | 09-13-03

[Brian S]

He was just a graying man with a guitar, but Johnny Cash's age-old voice carried a burden of mourning and defiance that struck a nerve with young listeners raised on rap, punk and hard rock.

By the time Cash died Friday at age 71, he had become a sort of elder-statesman of hellraisers.

[tallhappy]

I like Johnny Cash. I remember him from when I was little. He's always been there. Like a presence.

I am deeply saddened as well -- like Tom Daschle.

I always found it strange that that Hoser Rubin would have recorded Cash. They're not really on the same side.

On another thread his incredible commercial success was reviewed. If anyone non-country (authentic country) this successful had died it would have been much bigger news and got more coverage. He, for example, had been selling more than the Beatles.

June Carter's passing got incredibly little media coverage.

Elites in media don't ever have a clue.

Get Rhythmn...

[Welsh Rabbit]

I'm only 27, but I always loved him (Dad was a big fan). I had refused to listen to his Rick Rubin album, but today I heard "Hurt" and truely got choked up listening to it (admittedly, in light of his departure) and I have never liked NIN.

[Welsh Rabbit]

Rick Rubin, the 30-year-old president of American Recordings

They need to recheck that. There is no way Rick Rubin is 30 years old....

[Brian S]

"Hurt" was the man singing at his own wake...

"Ring of Fire" will always be my Johnny Cash song...

[Welsh Rabbit]

Mine too. But At Folsom Prison is my favorite album (with Carl and Luther Perkins playing guitar). I'll admit though, not having grown up when JC was actually recording most of his albums, I probably missed a lot.

[Ruth A.]

He was just a graying man with a guitar...

Never would this decribe Johnny Cash. The writer is just trying to play up the angle of his story. Despite the age, despite the illnesses, despite the loss of June Carter Johnny was still going full throttle through life. What a loss.

[FlyVet]

Get Rhythmn...

You know the shoe shine boy, he never get low down

An' he got the dirtiest job in town

Bendin' low at the peoples' feet

On the windy corner of a dirty street

Boy, I asked, when you shine them shoes,

How you keep from gettin' the blues?

Get rhythm, when you bet the blues

C'mon get rhythm

When you get the blues...

I hadn't even thought of that song in over 30 years, but my dad had a 33 RPM LP record of Johnny Cash songs. Eat your heart out, rappers, you didn't invent it.

[Marauder]

Johnny Cash (not Elvis Presley) was the reason I got interested in music and started playing the guitar.

And twice now, when the tech industry has gone belly-up, music has bailed me out of financial straits and helped keep the bills paid.

The rest of the time, playing music on stage has just been something I do because when I quit doing it I start climbing the walls. I'll never be famous or even great at it, but I won't quit playing until I just physically can't manage it anymore