Johnny Cash – The Life in Lyrics Book Review

Chris Bateman tunes into this expansive anthology of Johnny Cash’s lyrics, put together by Mark Stielper and John Carter Cash

A Cadillac speeds through the desert at night. One of those roads from the movies, endlessly straight, all the way to the horizon. The static of the untuned radio fills the car with white noise. You turn the dial slowly to the right, a signal starts to form. A powerful voice, young but already packed with layers despite its youth, like it comes with the pain and the struggle of generations of farmers, convicts, of desperate men. It begins picking up pace “I fooled you, I fooled you, I got pig iron!” it bellows, not for the last time sticking it to the man. You turn the dial again, just a notch, gospel this time. Swing low, “Peace in the Valley,” what is it calling for: redemption, forgiveness? Turn it again and there’s that same voice, older now, more lived in, ravaged, fed up with a world that won’t accept him. He’s singing about them again, the powerful with their coffee and big cigars, but he just can’t be free. You spin the dial now, all the way to the end. Ghosts of songs fade in and out: God is still there, from sea to shining sea. Other truths haunt the night sky too. Addiction, redemption again, the black, the starless bible-black. You reach the top of the dial and the voice is gone, ending like it should, with love, with the greatest thing this voice has ever seen, lasting till the end of time. Softer now, still angry, still raw but calmer too, more accepting of it all. The dial winds up, springs back a little, the signal fades once more into the American night.

It has now been two decades since the passing of Johnny Cash, and in this time his legend has grown with his music continuing to resonate. In White Rabbit’s latest publication, Johnny Cash: The Life in Lyrics, by Mark Stiepler and with contributions from John Carter Cash, we are treated to a beautifully delivered and sometimes poignant tribute to the Man in Black, bringing to light not only his lyrical genius but offering up a portrait of the great man in the process.

At its heart, this coffee-table-sized book is an expansive anthology of Cash’s lyrical work, complemented by a deep dive into the archive, featuring photographs and artefacts, many of which are being shared with the public for the first time. Spanning 125 songs, the collection is not just a testament to Cash’s prolific nature but also a window into the soul of a man whose music defied genre constraints, blending country, rock, blues and gospel.

The inclusion of rare and never-before-seen visual material adds a layer of intimacy to the book. These visuals, drawn from the Cash Estate’s archives, offer fans a closer look at the life and times of Cash. The photographs range from personal family moments to iconic stage performances, providing us with something rare, a close-up of the man, his career and even more essentailly for fans, his personal space. It’s like being invited into his front room, sat on the sofa with a cup of coffee and being given his family photo albums.

Crucial to the book’s authenticity is the commentary from Cash’s family, particularly the insights from his son, John Carter Cash. His contribution is not just a loving homage but a critical lens through which to view his father’s work. John Carter Cash’s statement that there is “no better way to know my father than to look at his written works,” and this resonates deeply throughout the book, bringing home the message that as much as he was the great legend of the American outlaw, he was a family man of strong faith and a deep and enduring love for his wife and children.

Johnny Cash’s lyrics have always been marked by their emotional rawness and storytelling prowess. Reading through the collection, you are struck by the breadth of themes Cash tackled – love, loss, redemption, and the human condition. His ability to weave stories that were at once deeply personal and universally relatable set him apart as a songwriter. This book, by laying out his lyrics in their naked form, stripped of music, allows us to appreciate the poetry of his words, tolling like chuch bells loudly in the soul.

The book also works as a map through the evolution of American music. Cash was instrumental in the development of the Country, Gospel and Outlaw movements, and his stamp is clear in the work of countless artists who followed. Through his lyrics, we trace the journey of a man who was not just a musician but a cultural icon.

Johnny Cash: The Life in Lyrics is more than a collection of songs; it’s a narrative of a life lived richly and rawly. It’s a journey through the heart of American music, guided by one of its most enduring voices. The book is not just a fitting tribute to Johnny Cash, but a must-have for anyone interested in the man, his music, or the genres he helped define.

For fans old and new, this book offers a chance to connect with Johnny Cash’s legacy in a unique and profound way. It’s a reminder that while the Man in Black may have left us, his words, his music and his spirit remain. Johnny Cash: The Life in Lyrics is a fitting tribute to the great man and all he left us with, immortalised forever in the pages of this remarkable book.

---

Johnny Cash: The Life in Lyrics is published by White Rabbit Books