I usually do try to take my cue from our Word of the Week when I choose the music for Sometimes a Song. This week’s word, “because,” didn’t immediately “re-sound” with me. I just sent out a second song by Tony Bennett last week which would have served perfectly: “Because of You.” If you missed it, you can read about Tony Bennett and listen to that song here.
But today I’m bringing you a “because” song from a singer/songwriter who composed both music and lyrics for over 1000 songs in his long career as an entertainer, a man whose records sales of over 90 million worldwide make him one of the most successful and popular music stars of all time. That would be “The Man in Black,” Johnny Cash.
Like Tony Bennett, Johnny Cash skyrocketed to musical fame in the 1950’s and continued performing for the rest of his life. But when other country & western singers were largely recording hits on the “Hillbilly charts,” Cash was recording everything from C&W to blues to folk to gospel music. He was an instant crossover sensation, beginning his career with a little ol’ recording company called Sun Records, in company with a rising rock n’ roll star named Elvis Presley. Elvis and Johnny crossed paths at Sun Records and were friendly competitors for the title of best-selling single artists at the peak of their careers. In 1969, Johnny Cash outdid even the Beatles, with six and a half million records sold in that year alone. He was inducted into not only the Country & Western Hall of Fame, but also the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame, and and the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. And in 1999 he received a Grammy Lifetime achievement Award. If you hunt down the statistics, you will find that from the release of his first album in 1957, Johnny Cash produced between one and FOUR albums per year until his output began to slow a bit in the 1990 and 2000’s to only four or five per decade. He never stopped writing and recording as long as he drew breath. Despite his own declining health, he continued to perform, and finished 60 new songs in the last four months of his life, so determined was he to fulfill the final wishes of his wife, June Carter, that he not give up his music.
So which of Johnny Cash’s 1000 songs do I have for you today? It’s “I Walk the Line,” the singer’s third single release and first big-seller, the lead song from his 1957 album, “Johnny Cash, with his Hot Blue Guitar.” The song reached number one on the Country & Western charts and hit the top 20 on the Billboard charts that year.
If like me, you think you are pretty familiar with the music of Johnny Cash, I urge you to dig deeper into his story. I did that to prepare to write this post and learned far more than I can even begin to hint at here. I’ll be looking forward to discussing other of his songs now and again and sharing a few stories about his life and work as the opportunity arises.
Meantime, enjoy a really fine song by Mr. Cash. Note the rhythms and the rhymes and the structure of the lyrics, with the last two short lines of each stanza serving as a chorus. Listen to the tune, with its key changes after each verse giving Johnny a chance to demonstrate his vocal range, from baritone down to bass. And those of you who saw our Word of this Week will also note that Mr. Cash well knew that it is okay to begin a sentence with “because!”
I keep a close watch on this heart of mine. I keep my eyes wide open all the time. I keep the end out for the tie that binds. Because you're mine, I walk the line. I find it very, very easy to be true. I find myself alone when each day's through. Yes, I'll admit that I'm a fool for you. Because you're mine, I walk the line. As sure as night is dark and day is light. I keep you on my mind both day and night. And happiness I've known proves that it's right. Because you're mine, I walk the line. You've got a way to keep me on your side. You give me cause for love that I can't hide. For you I know I'd even try to turn the tide. Because you're mine, I walk the line. I keep a close watch on this heart of mine. I keep my eyes wide open all the time. I keep the end out for the tie that binds. Because you're mine, I walk the line.
Word & Song is an online magazine devoted to reclaiming the good, the beautiful, and the true. We publish six essays each week, on words, classic hymn, poems, films, and popular songs, as well a weekly podcast, alternately Poetry Aloud or Anthony Esolen Speaks. To support this project, please join us as a free or paid subscriber.
I ‘ve always enjoyed Johnny Cash, as did my late husband. His voice is so manly! (You should pardon the expression 🙂.)
When I first saw that the word of the week was “Because”, I thought for sure that the song of the week would have to be the old (Protestant) wedding solo by Guy d'Hardelot and Edward Teschemacher. Was it too corny for you? Or just before your time?
It can easily be “hammed up”, but is quite touching sung plainly.
Sadly, the footnote to this tremendous ballad must be “I Walked the Line,” the book written by his wife Vivian Cash, the woman for whom the song was written. His talent was formidable, as were his troubles: like so many of us, I suspect, he was his own worst enemy.
Excellent song choice!
https://www.amazon.com/Walked-Line-My-Life-Johnny/dp/1416532951