R.I.P. Johnny Cash 9/12/03 - Beyond Tiki

I ikitnrev Tiki Socialite D.C. / Virginia Joined: Jul 27, 2002 Posts: 1325	I ikitnrev Posted posted on Fri, Sep 12, 2003 12:49 PM I am also very saddened to hear of Johnny Cash's death. His greatest hits albums were regularly played on our family's cabinet stereo during the 60's.. Other memories of Johnny Cash ..... Back in 7th grade, our much hated English teacher assigned some written paper project. I can't remember what the topic was, but I do remember that I decided to incorporate the lyrics to several of Johnny's songs. I spent hours, lifting the turntable needle up and down, replaying segments over and over, until I had all the lyrics down correctly - and I ended up including 6 or 7 pages of entire song lyrics. It was then that I really discovered the power of songs like the Ballad of Ira Hayes. I was so afraid that my teacher would give me a bad grade for doing this simply copying, but instead she gave me an 'A' instead, and I have admired her a bit since then for doing so I was fortunate enough to see Johnny, along with June Carter, a few years ago at D.C.'s 9:30 club, and it will go down as one of the best shows I ever saw. The audience was very respectful - most of us knew his health was failing, yet he still put on a good 2+ hour show. My strongest memory of the night was Johnny standing alone backstage (I was standing close to the stage), as he quietly and respectfully watched his son perform three songs for the audience. Earlier this year, my older sister also passed away. I was able to visit her a few times, and on my first visit I bought along a Johnny Cash CD ... it was the live 'At Madison Square Garden' disc (highly recommended) Every time I visited her after that, that CD was played at least once. There was just something about Johnny's voice, and that boom-chikka-boom rhythm, that always drew us closer together. Listening to Johnny's version of 'First Time I Ever Saw Your Face' a few weeks after his wife June Carter had passed away, and feeling so sad that he would live the rest of his life without her. Vern

I am also very saddened to hear of Johnny Cash's death. His greatest hits albums were regularly played on our family's cabinet stereo during the 60's..

Other memories of Johnny Cash .....

Back in 7th grade, our much hated English teacher assigned some written paper project. I can't remember what the topic was, but I do remember that I decided to incorporate the lyrics to several of Johnny's songs. I spent hours, lifting the turntable needle up and down, replaying segments over and over, until I had all the lyrics down correctly - and I ended up including 6 or 7 pages of entire song lyrics. It was then that I really discovered the power of songs like the Ballad of Ira Hayes. I was so afraid that my teacher would give me a bad grade for doing this simply copying, but instead she gave me an 'A' instead, and I have admired her a bit since then for doing so
I was fortunate enough to see Johnny, along with June Carter, a few years ago at D.C.'s 9:30 club, and it will go down as one of the best shows I ever saw. The audience was very respectful - most of us knew his health was failing, yet he still put on a good 2+ hour show. My strongest memory of the night was Johnny standing alone backstage (I was standing close to the stage), as he quietly and respectfully watched his son perform three songs for the audience.
Earlier this year, my older sister also passed away. I was able to visit her a few times, and on my first visit I bought along a Johnny Cash CD ... it was the live 'At Madison Square Garden' disc (highly recommended) Every time I visited her after that, that CD was played at least once. There was just something about Johnny's voice, and that boom-chikka-boom rhythm, that always drew us closer together.
Listening to Johnny's version of 'First Time I Ever Saw Your Face' a few weeks after his wife June Carter had passed away, and feeling so sad that he would live the rest of his life without her.

Vern

Post #51107 by ikitnrev on Fri, Sep 12, 2003 12:49 PM