Johnny Cash Research Paper

Will Lytle
K. Neidlinger
MUS 110
4/6/2017
Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash is one of the biggest names in the music industry. He left behind an amazing legacy that told the story of his musical career and his personal life. Everything from love, to sorrow, killing to rebirth, and wartimes to magical times were topics of his songs. Many modern musicians are influenced by Cash, and his music is still played on the radio daily. He had hits in genres including country, rock, blues, folk, and gospel. There are many things that influenced the man that was Johnny Cash. I plan on discussing what those factors were and how they helped him to become the legendary musician that he was. Knowing what happened in all aspects of Johnny Cash’s life will help determine …show more content…
Even though he was never in prison, he strove to feel the same emotions that those men did. His song “Five Feet High and Rising” was written about a flood during his childhood from which his family almost lost their home for a second time. The song “Ira Hayes” was written about a real Indian soldier who was a hero on the battlefield but wasn’t cared for when he returned home, even as he drowned in just two inches of water. Cash’s songs about faith and gospel were influenced by his years singing with his family at church and at home. Every word that Cash sang into a microphone left an emotional legacy that is still influencing ever ear that is lucky enough to hear …show more content…
The music video for “God’s Gonna Cut You Down” is a perfect example of that. Some of the biggest names that appear in this video include David Allen Coe, Kanye West, Adam Levine, Owen Wilson, Chris Rock, Justin Timberlake, Kris Kristofferson, Jay Z, Kate Moss, the Dixie Chicks, and many other artists of other genres. Every even in Johnny Cash’s life helped to form into the person that he was. Death, drugs, love, pain, sorrow, joy, pride, and every drop of blood, sweat, and tears were a part of the mold that is Johnny Cash. At birth he was one of seven kids, growing up in a town that was a government experiment for poor farming families. He loved going to church, working the land, being with his family, and listening to any kind of music. As a young man he decided to repay the government for his family’s second chance, so he joined the Air Force. In Germany he helped decode enemy messages, which helped to save lives. His musical career took off after his service was over. Even though he had a failed marriage, he quickly rose to the top of the charts, even if he was fueled by a drug addiction. With the help of his second wife he turned over a new leaf, and re-affirmed his faith, which led him to release even more hit songs and influence many more

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