The Legend Of Johnny Cash

Johnny Cash

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D-DU-UDU

Everybody knows where you go when the sun goes down.

I think you only live to see the lights of town.

I wasted my time when I would try, try, try.

When the lights have lost their glow, you're gonna cry, cry, cry.

Soon your sugar-daddies will all be gone.

You'll wake up some cold day and find you're alone.

You'll call to me but I'm gonna tell you: "Bye, bye, bye,"

When I turn around and walk away, you'll cry, cry, cry,

You're gonna cry, cry, cry and you'll cry alone,

When everyone's forgotten and you're left on your own.

You're gonna cry, cry, cry.

I lie awake at night and wait 'til you come in.

You stay a little while and then you're gone again.

Every question that I ask, I get a lie, lie, lie.

For every lie you tell, you're gonna cry, cry, cry.

When your fickle little love gets old, no one will care for you.

You'll come back to me for a little love that's true.

I'll tell you no and you gonna ask me why, why, why?

When I remind you of all of this, you'll cry, cry, cry.

You're gonna cry, cry, cry and you'll cry alone,

When everyone's forgotten and you're left on your own.

You're gonna cry, cry, cry.

(2. Hey Porter)

INTRO

Hey,Porter,Hey Porter Would you tell me the time?

How much longer will it be 'til we cross that Mason Dixon Line?

At daylight will you tell that engineer to slow it down;

Or better still, just stop the train 'cause I want to look around.

Hey, Porter! Hey Porter! What time did you say?

How much longer will it be 'till I can see the light of day?

When we hit Dixie will you tell that engineer to ring his bell;

And ask everybody that ain't asleep to stand rightup and yell.

SOLO

Hey, Porter! Hey Porter! It's getting light outside.

This old train is puffin' smoke and I have to strain my eyes.

But ask that engineer if he will blow his whistle please,

Cause I smell frost on cotton leaves, and I feel that Southern breeze.

Hey, Porter! Hey, Porter! Please get my bags for me,

I need nobody to tell me now that we're in Tennessee

Go tell that engineer to make that lonesome whistle scream.

We're not so far from home so take it easy on the steam

SOLO

Hey Porter! Hey Porter! Please open up my door

When they stop this train I'm gonna get off first

cause I can't wait no more.

Tell that engineer I say, "Thanks a lot. I didn't mind the fare

I'm gonna set my feet on Southern soil and breathe that Southern air."

OUTRO

(3. Folsom Prison Blues)

I hear the train a comin'

It's rollin' 'round the bend,

And I ain't seen the sunshine,

Since, I don't know when,

I'm stuck in Folsom Prison,

And time keeps draggin' on,

But that train keeps a-rollin',

On down to San Antone.

When I was just a baby,

My Mama told me, "Son,

Always be a good boy,

Don't ever play with guns,"

But I shot a man in Reno,

Just to watch him die,

When I hear that whistle blowin',

I hang my head and cry.

Repeat Verse

I bet there's rich folks eatin',

In a fancy dining car,

They're probably drinkin' coffee,

And smokin' big cigars,

But I know I had it comin',

I know I can't be free,

But those people keep a-movin',

And that's what tortures me.

Repeat Verse

Well, if they freed me from this prison,

If that railroad train was mine,

I bet I'd move out on a little,

Farther down the line,

Far from Folsom Prison,

That's where I want to stay,

And I'd let that lonesome whistle,

Blow my Blues away.

4. 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 ends 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 is through

Yes, I'll admit 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 ends out for the tie that binds

Because you're mine, I walk the line

5. Get Rhythm

Hey get rhythm when you get the blues

come on get rhythm when you get the blues

get a rock 'n' roll feelin in your bones

put taps on your toes an get gone

get rhythm when you get the blues

A little shoe shine boy he never gets low down

but he's got the dirtiest job in town

bending low at the peoples feet

on a windy corner of a dirty street

when i asked him while he shined my shoes

how to you keep from getting the blues

he grinned as he raised his little head

he popped he shoe shine rag and then he said

Get rhythm when you get the blues

come on get rhythm when you get the blues

a jumpin rhythm makes you feel so fine

it will shake all the troubles off your worried mind

get rhythm when you get the blues

Get rhythm when you get the blues

come on get rhythm when you get the blues

get a rock 'n' roll feelin in your bones

put taps on your toes an get gone

get rhythm when you get the blues

Well i sat and listened to the shoe shine boy

and i thought i was gonna jump for joy

slapped on the shoe polish left and right

he took his shoe shine rag an he held it tight

he stopped once to wipe the sweat away

i said "you mighty little boy to be a-workin that way"

he said i like it with a big wide grin

kept on a poppin an he said it again

Get rhythm when you get the blues

come on get rhythm when you get the blues

it only cost a dime just a nickle a shoe

it does a million dollars worth of good for you

get rhythm when you get the blues

6. Big River

Well I taught the weeping willow

how to cry, And I showed the

clouds how to cover

up a clear blue sky

But the tears that I cried

For that women are gonna

Flood you Big River and

I'm gonna sit right here

untill I die

I met her accidentally in

St. Paul Minnasota , And it

tore me up every time I

heard her drawl, southern drawl

Then I heard my dream was

back down stream cavortin in

Davenport , and I followed you

Big River, when you called

Fill :

Then you took me to St. Louis

later on down the river , a

freighter said shes been here

but shes gone , boy shes gone

I found her trail in Memphis

but she just walked up the block

she raised a few eyebrows and

then she went on down alone

Now wont you batter down by

Batton Rouge , river queen rolling

on, Take that women on down

to New Orleans, New Orleans

Go on I' ve had enough dump

my blues down in the gulf

cause she loves you Big River

More then me.

7. I Guess Things Happen That Way

Well, you ask me if I'll forget my baby

I guess I will some day

I don't like it but I guess things happen that way

You ask me if I'll get along

I guess I will some way

I don't like it but I guess things happen that way

God gave me that girl to lean on, then he put me on my own

Heaven help me be a man and have the strength to stand alone

I don't like it but I guess things happen that way

You ask me if I'll miss her kisses

I guess I will every day

I don't like it but I guess things happen that way

You ask me if I'll find another

I don't know, I can't say

I don't like it but I guess things happen that way

8. Ring of Fire

Love Is A Burning Thing

And It Makes A Firery Ring

Bound By Wild Desire

I Fell Into A Ring Of Fire

I Fell Into A Burning Ring Of Fire

I Went Down, Down, Down

And The Flames Went Higher

And It Burns, Burns, Burns

The Ring Of Fire

Repeat INTRO Twice

Repeat CHORUS

The Taste Of Love Is Sweet

When Hearts Like Ours Meet

I Fell For You Like A Child

Ohh, But The Fire Went Wild

Repeat CHORUS

And It Burns, Burns, Burns

The Ring Of Fire

9.Jackson

Both: We got married in a fever, hotter than a 'Pepper Sprout'

Both: We've been talkin' 'bout Jackson, ever since the fire went out

John: I'm goin' to Jackson, I'm gonna mess a- round

John: Yea! I'm goin' to Jackson, look out Jackson town.

(Just Repeat Same Chords For All Verses)

June: Well, go on down to Jackson, go ahead and wreck your health

June: Go play our hand you big-talkin' man, make a big fool of yourself

June: Yea! go to Jackson, go comb your hair

John: "Honey, I'm gonna snowball Jackson."

June: "See if I care."

John: When I breeze into that city, people gonna stoop and bow

June: (Hah!)

John: All them women gonna make me, teach 'em what they don't know how

John: I'm goin' to Jackson, you turn-a loose-a my coat

John: 'Cause, I'm goin' to Jackson

June: Goodbye, that's all she wrote.

June: But they'll laugh at you in Jackson

June: And I'll be dancin' on a 'Pony Keg'

June: They'll lead you 'round town like a scalded hound

June: With your tail tucked between your legs

June: Yea! go to Jackson, you big-talkin' man

June: And I'll be waitin' in Jackson, behind my 'Ja(y)-pan Fan', Well!;

Both: We got married in a fever, hotter than a 'Pepper Sprout'

Both: We've been talkin' 'bout Jackson, ever since the fire went

Both: I'm goin' to Jackson, I'm gonna mess around

Both: Yea! I'm goin' to Jackson, look out Jackson town.

TAG: We got married in a fever, hotter than a 'Pepper Sprout' (FADE)

We've been talkin' 'bout Jackson, ever since the fire went...

10. A Boy Named Sue

My daddy left home when I was three

And he didn't leave much to Ma and me

Just this old guitar and an empty bottle of booze.

Now, I don't blame him cause he run and hid

But the meanest thing that he ever did

Was before he left, he went and named me 'Sue.'

(Repeat For all Verses)

Well, he must o' thought that is was quite a joke

And it got a lot of laughs from a' lots of folk,

It seems I had to fight my whole life through.

Some gal would giggle and I'd get red

And some guy'd laugh and I'd bust his head,

I tell ya, life ain't easy for a boy named 'Sue.'

Well, I grew up quick and I grew up mean,

My fist got hard and my wits got keen,

I'd roam from town to town to hide my shame.

But I made me a vow to the moon and stars

That I'd search the honky-tonks and bars

And kill that man that give me that awful name.

Well, it was Gatlinburg in mid-July

And I just hit town and my throat was dry,

I thought I'd stop and have myself a brew.

At an old saloon on a street of mud,

There at a table, dealing stud,

Sat the dirty, mangy dog that named me 'Sue.'

Well, I knew that snake was my own sweet dad

From a worn-out picture that my mother'd had,

And I knew that scar on his cheek and his evil eye.

He was big and bent and gray and old,

And I looked at him and my blood ran cold

And I said: ÒMy name is 'Sue!' how do you do! Now you gonna die!Ó

Well, I hit him hard right between the eyes

And he went down but, to my surprise,

He come up with a knife and cut off a piece of my ear.

But I busted a chair right across his teeth

And we crashed through the wall and into the street

Kicking and a' gouging in the mud and the blood and the beer.

I tell ya, I've fought tougher men

But I really can't remember when,

He kicked like a mule and he bit like a crocodile.

I heard him laugh and then I heard him cuss,

He went for his gun and I pulled mine first,

He stood there lookin' at me and I saw him smile.

And he said: Son, this world is rough

And if a man's gonna make it, he's gotta be tough

And I know I wouldn't be there to help ya along.

So I give ya that name and I said good-bye

I knew you'd have to get tough or die

And it's that name that helped to make you strong.Ó

He said: 'Now you just fought one hell of a fight

And I know you hate me, and you got the right

To kill me now, and I wouldn't blame you if you do.

But ya ought to thank me, before I die,

For the gravel in ya guts and the spit in ya eye

Cause I'm the son-of-a-bitch that named you 'Sue'.'

I got all choked up and I threw down my gun

And I called him my pa, and he called me his son,

And I come away with a different point of view.

And I think about him, now and then,

Every time I try and every time I win,

And if I ever have a son, I think I'm gonna name him

Bill or George! Any damn thing but sue! I still hate that name!

11. Sunday Morning Comin' Down

Well, I woke up Sunday morning

With no way to hold my head that didn't hurt.

And the beer I had for breakfast wasn't bad,

So I had one more for dessert.

Then I fumbled in my closet through my clothes

And found my cleanest dirty shirt.

Then I washed my face and combed my hair

And stumbled down the stairs to meet the day.

I'd smoked my mind the night before

With cigarettes and songs I'd been picking.

But I lit my first and watched a small kid

Playing with a can that he was kicking.

Then I walked across the street

And caught the Sunday smell of someone frying chicken.

And Lord, it took me back to something that I'd lost

Somewhere, somehow along the way.

On a Sunday morning sidewalk,

I'm wishing, Lord, that I was stoned.

'Cause there's something in a Sunday

That makes a body feel alone.

And there's nothing short a' dying

That's half as lonesome as the sound

Of the sleeping city sidewalk

And Sunday morning coming down.

(Repeat)

In the park I saw a daddy

With a laughing little girl that he was swinging.

And I stopped beside a Sunday school

And listened to the songs they were singing.

Then I headed down the street,

And somewhere far away a lonely bell was ringing,

And it echoed through the canyon

Like the disappearing dreams of yesterday.

On a Sunday morning sidewalk,

I'm wishing, Lord, that I was stoned.

'Cause there's something in a Sunday

That makes a body feel alone.

And there's nothing short a' dying

That's half as lonesome as the sound

Of the sleeping city sidewalk

And Sunday morning coming down.

12. Man In Black

Well, you wonder why I always dress in black

Why you never see bright colors on my back?

And why does my ap- pearance

Seem to have a sombre tone?

Well, there's a reason for the things that I have on.

I wear the black for the poor and the beaten down

Livin' in the hopeless, hungry side of town

I wear it for the pri- soner

Who has long paid for his crime

But is there because he's a victim of the times.

I wear the black for those, who've never read

Or listened to the words, that Jesus said

About the road to happiness, through love and charity

Why, you'd think He's talking straight to you and me.

Well, we're doin' mighty fine, I do suppose

In our streak-of-lightnin' cars and fancy clothes

But just so we're reminded of, the ones who are held back

Up front there oughta be a man in black.

I wear it for the sick and lonely old

For the reckless ones, whose bad trip left them cold

I wear the black in mournin', for the lives that could have been

Each week we lose a hundred fine young men.

And I wear it for the thousands who have died

Believin' that the Lord was on their side

I wear it for another hundred thousand who have died

Believin' that we all were on their side.

Well, there's things that never will be right, I know

And things need changin' ev'rywhere you go

But 'til we start to make a move, to make a few things right

You'll never see me wear a suit of white.

Aw! I'd love to wear a rainbow every day

And tell the world that ev'rything's OK

But I'll try to carry off a little darkness on my back

'Til things are brighter I'm the man in black.

13. One Piece At A Time

Well, I left Kentucky back in '49

And went to Detroit workin' on a 'sembly line

The first year they had me puttin' wheels on cadillacs

Every day I'd watch them beauties roll by

And sometimes I'd hang my head and cry

'Cause I always wanted me one that was long and black.

One day I devised myself a plan

That should be the envy of most any man

I'd sneak it out of there in a lunchbox in my hand

Now gettin' caught meant gettin' fired

But I figured I'd have it all by the time I retired

I'd have me a car worth at least a hundred grand.

I'd get it one piece at a time

And it wouldn't cost me a dime

You'll know it's me when I come through your town

I'm gonna ride around in style

I'm gonna drive ever'body wild

'Cause I'll have the only one there is around.

So the very next day when I punched in

With my big lunchbox and with help from my friends

I left that day with a lunch box full of gears

Now I never considered myself a thief

But GM wouldn't miss just one little piece

Especially if I strung it out over several years.

The first day I got me a fuel pump

And the next day I got me an engine and a trunk

Then I got me a transmission and all of the chrome

The little things I could get in my big lunchbox

Like nuts, an' bolts, and all four shocks

But the big stuff we snuck out in my buddy's mobile home.

Now up to now my plan went allright

'Til we tried to put it all together one night

And that's when we noticed that something was definitely wrong.

The transmission was a '53

And the motor turned out to be a '73

And when we tried to put in the bolts all the holes were gone.

So we drilled it out so that it would fit

And with a little bit of help with an A-daptor kit

We had that engine runnin' just like a song

Now the headlight' was another sight

We had two on the left and one on the right

But when we pulled out the switch all three of 'em come on.

The back end looked kinda funny too

But we put it together and when we got thru

Well, that's when we noticed that we only had one tail-fin

About that time my wife walked out

And I could see in her eyes that she had her doubts

But she opened the door and said "Honey, take me for a spin."

So we drove up town just to get the tags

And I headed her right on down main drag

I could hear ever'body laughin' for blocks around

But up there at the court house they didn't laugh

'Cause to type it up it took the whole staff

And when they got through the title weighed sixty pounds.

I got it one piece at a time

And it didn't cost me a dime

You'll know it's me when I come through your town

I'm gonna ride around in style

I'm gonna drive ever'body wild

'Cause I'll have the only one there is around.

(Spoken) Ugh! Yow, RED RYDER This is the COTTON MOUTH

In the PYSCHO-BILLY CADILLAC Come on

Huh, This is the COTTON MOUTH

And negatory on the cost of this mow-chine there RED RYDER

You might say I went right up to the factory

And picked it up, it's cheaper that way

Ugh!, what model is it

Well, It's a '49, '50, '51, '52, '53, '54, '55, '56

'57, '58' 59' Automobile

(Fade) It's a '60, '61, '62, '63, '64, '65, '66, '67

'68, '69, '70 Automobile.

14.Highway Man

(Willie Nelson)

I was a highwayman, along the coach roads I did ride,

Sword and pistol by my side,

Many a young maid lost her baubles to my trade,

Many a soldier shed his lifeblood on my blade,

The bastards hung me in the spring of twenty-five,

But I am still alive

(Kris Kristofferson)

I was a sailor, I was born upon the tide,

With the sea I did abide,

I sailed a schooner round the horn of Mexico,

I went aloft and furled the main sail in a blow,

And when the yard broke off they say that I got killed,

But I am living still

(Waylon Jennings)

I was a dam builder, across a river long and wide,

Where steel and water did collide,

A place called boulder on the wild Colorado,

I slipped and fell on the wet concrete below,

They buried me in that gray tomb that knows no sounds,

But I am still around,

(All)

I'll always be around, and around, and around, and around, and around

(Johnny Cash)

I'll fly a starship across the universe divide,

And when I reach the other side,

I'll find a place to rest my spirit if I can,

Perhaps I may become a highwayman again,

Or I may simply be a single drop of rain,

But I will remain,

(All) (same chords as bridge)

And I'll be back again, and again, and again, and again, and again

(let ring)

15. The Wanderer

Tune down half a step

Intro

I went out walking through the 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 wont 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 cant 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 dont want God in it

I went out riding

Down that ol eight lane

I passed by a thousand signs

Looking for my own name

I went with nothing

But the thought youd 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, lookin for one good man

A spirit who would not bend or break

Who would sit at his fathers 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, dont you wait up

Jesus, Ill be home soon

Yeah I went out for the papers

Told her Id be back by noon

Yeah I left with nothing

But the thought youd be there too

Looking for you...

Yeah I left with nothing

Nothing but the thought of you...

I went wandering

16.Delia's Gone

Delia, oh Delia, Delia all my life

If I hadn't-a shot poor Delia, I'd have had her for my wife