Sunday, September 19, 2010

Johnny Cash — The Man Comes Around

A very moving album - I listen to it quite a lot.

The phrase "There's a man going around taking names" which begins the song is not merely a Biblical reference, it also refers to the song of that name popularized by folk singer Lead Belly

BBC
How does Johnny Cash do it? Take a hoary old chestnut like ''Bridge Over Troubled Water'': You've heard it so many times you're not just sick of it but are completely numb to any impact it might have. But yet here comes Mr Cash with that familiar wobbly, rough as torn sandpaper voice and yes, the hairs stand up on the back of your neck, and you're on the verge of tears, such is the emotional power he can still generate.







3 comments:

Dan said...

Love it and love it. You are right on with emotion felt when listening to this. Love Johnny and miss him much.

Ron Moorby said...

Thanks Dan - it's emotive, scary, touching - just excellent

mister anchovy said...

In the last several years of Mr. Cash's life, he was in some kind of very special space. Song after song after song. I remember when I first heard about his first recording on American. A friend of mine said "If you haven't heard this you'd better start listening soon." I stopped me in my tracks. Sin and Redemption. Love and War. All heartfelt and personal. Stunning material.