What Can't Johnny Sing?
Last night I stopped by the local music store, to see what I could find in the way of used CDs. I walked away with three, and as I headed to the register it struck me that all three artists - Ray Charles (The Best of Ray Charles), Warren Zevon (The Wind), and Johnny Cash (The Essential Johnny Cash) - had died recently.
When I got home I threw on the Cash CD, listening as I cleaned up the placed and did some dishes. I wasn't paying close attention so I was surprised when I realized I was listening to If I Were A Carpenter and enjoying it. Now everyone knows Johnny Cash covered a lot of songs and put his stamp on each of them; hell, the Man in Black could've sung my grocery list and made it sound good. But If I Were A Carpenter?
Written by Tim Hardin (I think) and covered by seemingly everyone, this was a song I couldn't stand. I'd flee the station whenever it popped up on the radio, desperate to get away from the overly maudlin lyrics that didn't so much tug at your heart strings as clumsily paw at them...
Why? Well partly due to Cash himself: his distinctive voice, the force of personality the streams through it... his whole aura of authenticity. It's impossible to listen to the man sing and think 'he's bullshitting the audience.' No way - he believes in the truth of every word he sings. The rest, I think, is due to the presence of June Carter Cash, who accompanies her husband on this song. She has a voice that is a lovely counterpoint to Johnny's and the fact that the two had a storied romance makes the song that much more real.
Okay. None of that may make sense to you; it may come off as pseudo-music critic nonsense. The point I was trying to make is that June and Johnny Cash took a remarkably bad song and turned into a memorable one. They are both lost to us, dead and gone, and I still discover new joy in their talents.
When I got home I threw on the Cash CD, listening as I cleaned up the placed and did some dishes. I wasn't paying close attention so I was surprised when I realized I was listening to If I Were A Carpenter and enjoying it. Now everyone knows Johnny Cash covered a lot of songs and put his stamp on each of them; hell, the Man in Black could've sung my grocery list and made it sound good. But If I Were A Carpenter?
Written by Tim Hardin (I think) and covered by seemingly everyone, this was a song I couldn't stand. I'd flee the station whenever it popped up on the radio, desperate to get away from the overly maudlin lyrics that didn't so much tug at your heart strings as clumsily paw at them...
If I were a carpenter,Ugh ugh ugh, a thousand times..ugh. But somehow in Cash's capable hands the song worked. His voice made the anonymous questioner of the song - wanting to be loved for who he is not what he does -seem...real, and sincere. Instead of thinking 'what an awful corny song' I was - dare I say it - touched. My disbelief (and inherent cynicism) was suspended and I bought into the story the song was telling.
And you were a lady,
Would you marry me anyway?
Would you have my baby?
Why? Well partly due to Cash himself: his distinctive voice, the force of personality the streams through it... his whole aura of authenticity. It's impossible to listen to the man sing and think 'he's bullshitting the audience.' No way - he believes in the truth of every word he sings. The rest, I think, is due to the presence of June Carter Cash, who accompanies her husband on this song. She has a voice that is a lovely counterpoint to Johnny's and the fact that the two had a storied romance makes the song that much more real.
Save my love through loneliness,
Save my love for sorrow,
I'm givin' you my onliness,
Come give your tomorrow.
Okay. None of that may make sense to you; it may come off as pseudo-music critic nonsense. The point I was trying to make is that June and Johnny Cash took a remarkably bad song and turned into a memorable one. They are both lost to us, dead and gone, and I still discover new joy in their talents.
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