Post #51080 by Formikahini on Fri, Sep 12, 2003 9:41 AM

I too am just crushed. My dad and I would listen to Cash on 8-Track when I was young. Then I grew up to sing his and June's songs. But it's taken me until recent years, as an adult, to really appreciate how moving he was as a writer and a performer.

I'm told Trent Reznor (NIN) wept upon seeing the video of Johnny's version of his song. How cool to think that he was a creative, important, and moving force until his death, at age 71, instead of a bright flame that spends itself in just a few short years. The coward's way out, that.

But Cash was a fighter and in many ways an Everyman. How else to you explain how both the felons at Folsom Prison AND my dad, an upright ex-Marine white collar (non-scummy) lawyer who sings in his church choir, could adore the man so? And ME, an ex-sorority girl, high school Spanish teacher (OK, yeah, granted, with some time in the punk rock world, but STILL!)? Johnnny Cash spoke to and for us all.

I'm wearing black, as are other teachers at my school.