Johnny Cash's House Burns Down

A sad day for those who remember the life and work of Johnny Cash: his home outside of Nashville burned down today. This was the lakeside home where Johnny did a great deal of thinking, writing, and entertaining. His guests included presidents, Bob Dylan and even Billy Graham. Not much is left of Johnny's estate anymore. Most has been sold. The House of Cash Museum was closed due to a flood and then sold and redeveloped into office space a couple of years ago. That's a real irony considering Johnny's dislike of "the system."

If you haven't seen Johnny's last video while he was alive (age 70) check out "Hurt" here. It's a cover of the Nine Inch Nails song; a dark reflection on his life, with elements of hope found in the Christian imagery. I guess the reason I like Johnny so much is that he was not content with the dualism that so many Christians create between the secular and the sacred. Johnny struggled to understand what it meant to walk with God in a world of evil; he constantly engaged the world. He certainly battled his own demons, but I love his sincereity, his raw, gritty experience with God, and his passion for seeing the world set right (especially in his later days). Much of "Hurt" was filmed in the home that burned down today.

Also give a look and listen to "God's Gonna Cut You Down," a song produced after Johnny's death. It's a good call for social action and reminder that no one can hide from the Creator, all will have to answer for their actions.

Finally, don't forget about his unbelievable guest appearance on U2's Zooropa. Johnny provided the vocals for "The Wanderer," a song that is inspired by and directly reflects on the biblical book of Ecclesiastes. Johnny's deep baritone voice paired with an electronic soundtrack is stark and captivating, a perfect ending for such an experimental album. Here's a very low res copy of the song. Buy the real thing on iTunes.

I went out walking
Through streets paved with gold
Lifted some stones
Saw the skin and bones
Of a city without a soul
I went out walking
Under an atomic sky
Where the ground won't turn
And the rain it burns
Like the tears when I said goodbye

Yeah I went with nothing
Nothing but the thought of you
I went wandering

I went drifting
Through the capitals of tin
Where men can't walk
Or freely talk
And sons turn their fathers in
I stopped outside a church house
Where the citizens like to sit
They say they want the kingdom
But they don't want God in it

I went out riding
Down that old eight lane
I passed by a thousand signs
Looking for my own name

I went with nothing
But the thought you'd be there too
Looking for you

I went out there
In search of experience
To taste and to touch
And to feel as much
As a man can
Before he repents

I went out searching
Looking for one good man
A spirit who would not bend or break
Who would sit at his father's right hand
I went out walking
With a bible and a gun
The word of God lay heavy on my heart
I was sure I was the one
Now Jesus, don't you wait up
Jesus, I'll be home soon
Yeah I went out for the papers
Told her I'd be back by noon

Yeah I left with nothing
But the thought you'd be there too
Looking for you

Yeah I left with nothing
Nothing but the thought of you
I went wandering

Comments

[Dustin Lamb]

This is a great song, it just brought a tear to my eye listenting to it while reading lyrics, it still saddens me that cash is gone.....I didnt;t discover him till later in his career and i'm only 28 so I didn't get to hear much of it. later

[Tim]

Thanks for the comment Dustin. I still get chills everytime I watch "Hurt." Trent Reznor (lead singer for Nine Inch Nails and writer of "Hurt") said it became Johnny's song. If you're interested you can read a great Rolling Stone article here: http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/7378167/in_other_words_trent_reznor.

Thanks again, Tim.