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September 12, 2003
The Man in Black
I just found out that Johnny Cash (1932-2003) has died of complications due to diabetes, which led to respiratory failure. I've always appreciated his music, but my admiration of him grew over the last few years with his American Recordings releases with producer Rick Rubin. Hearing those songs allowed me to go back and rediscover Cash's classic songs such as "Folsom Prison Blues," "Ring of Fire," "Jackson," and most significantly, for me, "Man in Black." I can think of no tribute to this man whose music and spirit I admire so much, but I think his words speak for themselves:
I wear it for the sick and lonely old
For the reckless ones whose bad trip left them cold
I wear the black in morning 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' everywhere you go
But till we start to make a move to make a few things right
You'll never see me wear a suit of white
Oh I'd love to wear a rainbow every day and tell the world that everything's okay
But I'll try to carry off a little darkness on my back
Till things're brighter I'm the man in black
Posted by chuck at September 12, 2003 9:59 AM
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Comments
KEXP - a Seattle radio station - has been playing a ton of Cash this morning. Man in Black was just on... good song...
http://www.kexp.org/index.htm
Posted by: Jason at September 12, 2003 10:56 AM
The Georgia State University radio station (WRAS 88.5) had a nice tribute going before they went to a syndicated news program. They happened to be playing "When the Man Comes Around" when I logged onto the Web this morning and learned the news.
Posted by: chuck at September 12, 2003 11:34 AM