"I'd love to wear a rainbow every day,
And tell the world that everything's OK,
But I'll try to carry off a little darkness on my back,
'Til things are brighter, I'm the Man In Black."
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TL-1XBWoBlE
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Great song, it was on my list for my DJ week. I guess that means one more GBV song that week. Here's a review I wrote a while back of this song, part of my 2800 word "essay" on Johnny Cash.
In 1971 Cash wrote and recorded The Man in Black. This song is momentous in the salvation of Johnny Cash as it infused his iconic garb with beatific intentions. He wasn’t wearing black because it looked good, the black represented the darkness that was essential before one can open up to the light, egolessness giving way to religious illumination. Cash had lived a life that given him many rewards: fortune, the adulation of millions, a loving wife. With The Man in Black Cash acknowledges that, in the eyes of God, all those rewards are worthless as long as there are those that are hungry, cold, sick, or hopeless
very well put (and sorry about scooping your song; bootsy nabbed about 5 of my tracks before my week). this is what i felt the response to recent events should have been more akin to, rather than celebration and chanting of various acronyms.
I will be annoyed until the day that I die that I cannot wear all black on a given day without hearing at least eight times, "Hey Johnny!"
If I'd say something (although now I probably wouldn't), I'd first ask whose funeral you were attending or had attended that day. So maybe being called Johnny isn't that bad.
Since I work in LA, I would ask Beau if he's an agent - which may be even worse than assuming he went to a funeral. Ba dum bump!
When I'm getting dressed, if I'm black I'll always ask the Mrs. if I look okay or am I "too Johnny Cash". The man's influence goes far beyond his music.
The man's influence goes far beyond his music
Tru dat. His TV show was instrumental in bringing some key folk and folk-rock figures onto a mainstream platform in the midst of the Vietnam war -- Joni Mitchell, Zimmy, Pete Seeger, CCR, Arlo Guthrie, Jose Feliciano.
And he brought Odetta to the small screen. That's gotta be worth something.
And who can beat his roster of sons-in-law: Rodney Crowell, Nick Lowe and Marty Stuart.
A love for Johnny Cash's music was something Pops and I shared for many years. While Pops never dug the American Recordings stuff (the first couple were too dark, he said), he did get to enjoy a little of the new Bootleg series, which I sent to him about a month and a half ago. When Johnny Cash died on my birthday, Pops and I had a pretty quiet conversation when he called to wish me a happy birthday.
Two other things I love about Johnny Cash was that his name was lent to the Navy's winter blue uniforms. Corn can probably speak better to how they were to wear & maintain, but I always thought they looked seriously sharp. The other thing was a guy in my unit in Iraq who was adamant that the only two proper ways to refer to Johnny Cash were by his whole name or as "Mr. Cash," and never as just "Johnny," such was his reverence for The Man in Black. He must have made that argument 23 or 24 times on that deployment.
The working blues were an awesome uniform. Navy blues (black) everything: trousers, button-up long sleeved shirt, tie and garrison cap. Easy to wear, easy to maintain, easy on the eyes. Only problem for me was that I was a what the Navy called a "snipe", working in the engine rooms and auxiliary spaces. I didn't get many opportunities to wear my "Johnny Cash" as I spent most of my time in coveralls or BDU's.
The Navy has since retired that uniform...too bad since I agree with CH, they did look seriously sharp. Long live the Man in Black.