The Sound of JC

Liner Notes

One of the most renowned and talented of balladeers, the Fabulous Johnny Cash once again offers a fine collection of originals and classics.

He begins his program with Lost on the Desert, a hair-raising tale of an escaped convict seeking the cache he buried before capture; but the sunscorched sky, the Devil and his own conscience baffle his desperate search. In Accidentally on Purpose Johnny offers an ironic glimpse of a jilted young man who suspects that his former sweetheart married another out of sheer spite. In the Jailhouse Now, by Jimmy Rodgers, is an outstanding example of the narrative ballad form. Mr. Lonesome tells how it feels to have a severe case of the blues, while You Won't Have Far to Go expresses the sentiments of a gambling man who gambled at love-and lost. In Them Old Cottonfields Back Home, which closes the first half of the program, is a widely known, poignant ballad.

Johnny begins the second portion with Delia's Gone, a moving account of a man haunted by his murdered sweetheart's memory even as he drags his ball and chain, and then changes pace with I Forgot More Than You'll Ever Know, a betrayed lover's lament over a fickle lady-friend who succumbed to the lure of the town's pleasures, suggested by the honky-tonk piano in the background. You Remembered Me is another Johnny Cash original about a man who "believed that promises were made to break apart," while I'm Free From the Chain Gang Now presents in vivid terms the problems facing an ex-convict who must try to regain his former, respected position in society. "Let Me Down Easy, tell me a lie," entreats a deceived lover in the next song. Johnny concludes his program with his own Sing It Pretty, Sue, the admonition of a bereaved sweetheart who has lost his beautiful; talented "Sue" to the glamor of show business.

Whether singing country ballads, hymns or any kind of song, Johnny Cash has proved himself one of our most versatile artists. He comes naturally by his feeling for the ballad, having heard many of them in his hometown of Dyess, Arkansas, and having himself sung many of them to entertain his family and friends. As he gained experience, he also gained confidence in his singing and playing, and began to compose songs himself. When he took some of his work to record companies, his potential was recognized at once, and indeed his first songs, I Walk the Line, What Do I Care, All Over Again and Don't Take Your Guns to Town, were all huge successes. Since that time, he has appeared as a member of the cast of the Grand Ole Opry, and worked with other important stars such as Marty Robbins, Carl Perkins and Ray Price. When he is not traveling, Johnny lives in Casitas Springs, California with his charming wife and their four young daughters.

In The Sound of Johnny Cash, Johnny is heard at his finest, singing songs of outstanding interest in his inimitable and uniquely expressive style.

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Lyrics

1.
LOST ON THE DESERT
(Dallas Frazier - Buddy Mize)
� � '62 Central Songs, BMI �

A burnin' hot sun a cryin' for water black wings circle the sky
Stumblin' and fallin' somebody's callin' you're lost on the desert to die

I had to give up and they took me to jail but I hid all the money I got
Way out on the desert where no one could get it and I left a mark at the spot
Then I got away and I ran for the desert the devil had taken control
I needed water but he said I'd make it near the money is a big waterhole

A burnin' hot sun a cryin' for water...
[ ac.guitar ]
Just up ahead is where I left my mark or it may be to the left or the right
I've been runnin' all day and they'll catch up tomorrow I've got to find it tonight
Then up jumped the devil and ran away laughin' he drank all the waterholes dry
He moved my mark till I'm running in circles and lost on the desert to die

A burnin' hot sun a cryin' for water...
(Lost on the desert to die) lost on the desert to die (lost on the desert to die)
**********

2.
ACCIDENTALLY ON PURPOSE
(George Jones - Darrell Edwards)
� � '59 Glad Music, BMI / Pappy Daily Music, BMI /
Fort Knox Music, BMI / Trio Music, BMI �

Accidentally I saw you this morning you were lovely dressed in your wedding gown
And they say that you married a stranger to me that had drifted to our old hometown

Accidentally you've met him one evening and you say it was love at first sight
Accidentally on purpose you've married accidentaly on purpose for spite

Cause I saw out cheatin' and runnin' around
And I was just a fool with a heart of a clown
Accidentally you were mistaken that night accidentally on purpose for spite
[ guitar ]
Cause I saw out cheatin'...
**********

3.
IN THE JAILHOUSE NOW
(Jimmie Rodgers)
� � '28 Peer International, BMI �

I had a friend named Bill Campbell he used to rob steal and gamble
And on the side he'd beg so he mopped up
I told him he shouldn't do it and Campbell told me he knew it
So he started beggin' with a bucket instead of a cup

He's in the jailhouse now (he's in the jailhouse now)
He's in the jailhouse now (he's in the jailhouse now)
Well Campbell fluffed his dove when he wore a tuxedo to the country club
He's in the jailhouse now (he's in the jailhouse now)
[ guitar ]
I met his old gal Sadie she said have you seen Billy lately
I said I don't believe that he's about
She went down to the jail she went down to take him his mail
Then she whispered sheriff please don't let him out

He's in the jailhouse now (he's in the jailhouse now)
He's in the jailhouse now (he's in the jailhouse now)
While Campbell's put away Sadie's with the sheriff everyday
He's in the jailhouse now (he's in the jailhouse now)
[ guitar ]
Well I remember the last election the prohibitionists were in action
They's tryin' to elect themselves a president
Bill Canpbell and John Austin walked from New Orleans to Boston
And they've got a bottle in every settlement

They're in the jailhouse now (he's in the jailhouse now)
They're in the jailhouse now (he's in the jailhouse now)
They were down at the railroad track stealin' a train to haul it back
They're in the jailhouse now (he's in the jailhouse now)
**********

4.
MR. LONESOME
(Tompall Glaser)
� � '62 Ensign Music, BMI �

I've got no fire inside of me can't be the man I try to be
Oh Mr Lonesome hanging round
Don't wanna see nobody don't wanna be nobody
Oh Mr Lonesome got me down

He makes me leave the party when folks are laughin' hearty
Happiness is one thing he can't stand
Nobody wants or needs me I go just where he leads me
Oh Mr Lonesome got my hand

And so my whole life over each day is like the other
But still if my one wish could be
If that old chain that binds me breaks when true love finds me
And Mr Lonesome sets me free oh Mr Lonesome got me down
**********

5.
YOU WON'T HAVE FAR TO GO
(Chuck Glaser)
� � '62 Unichappell Music, BMI / Elvis Presley Music, BMI �

I can see now that you've stacked the cards so I leave you with my best regards
When you play to feel with nothing left to show look for me you won't have far to go

Love's a gamble and I'm a gamblin' man I've done everything to make you understand
But the odds are high and luck is running low look for me you won't have far to go

You won't have far to go if you want me cause I'm gonna stick close to you
And I'm not the kind to say I told you so look for me you won't have far to go
[ guitar ]
You won't have far to go...
**********

6.
COTTON FIELDS
(Huddie Ledbetter - arr. Johnny Cash)
� � '61 House Of Cash, BMI �

When I was a little bitty baby my mama would rock me in my cradle
In them old cottonfields back home

When I was a little bitty baby...

Now when them cotton bowls get rotten you can't pick very much cotton
In them old cottonfields back home
It was down in Louisiana just about a mile from Texarkana
In them old cottonfields back home
[ guitar ]
When I was a little bitty baby...
When I was a little bitty baby...
In them old cottonfields back home
In them old cottonfields back home
**********

7.
DELIA'S GONE
(Karl Silbersdorf - Dick Toops)
� � '59 Bon Bon Music, BMI �

Delia oh Delia Delia all my life
If I hadn't have shot poor Delia I'd've had her for my wife
Delia's gone one more round Delia's gone

First time I shot her shot her in the side
Hard to watch her suffer but with the second shot she died
Delia's gone one more round Delia's gone

Well the guilty gets a sentence but I ain't gonna tell you mine
Cause I got a brother in Memphis doin' life for ninety-nine
Delia's gone one more round Delia's gone
[ guitar ]
Oh jailer oh jailer Jailer I can't sleep
Cause all around my bedside I hear the patter of Delia's feet
Delia's gone one more round Delia's gone

Now you give me my hammer I'll drag the ball and chain
And every rock I bust I seem to ring out Delia's name
Delia's gone one more round Delia's gone
Delia's gone one more round Delia's gone oh Delia
**********

8.
I FORGOT MORE THAN YOU'LL EVER KNOW
(Cecil Null)
� � '53 Unart Catalog, BMI �

You think you know the smile on her lips the thrill at the touch of her fingertips
But I forgot more than you'll ever know about her
You think you'll find a heaven of bliss in each caress and each tender kiss
But I forgot more than you'll ever know about her

You stole her love from me one day you didn't care how you've hurt me
But you can never steal away mem'ries of what used to be
You think she's yours to have and to hold
But someday you'll learn when her love grows cold
That I forgot more than you'll ever know about her
[ ac.guitar ]
You stole her love from me...
**********

9.
YOU REMEMBERED ME
(Johnny Cash)
� � '61 Anne Rachel Music, ASCAP / Song Of Cash Music, ASCAP �

You were young and needed love and I was wild and free
But every time you said a prayer you said a prayer for me
Why the ring upon your hand we vowed fidelity
There were times when I forgot but you remembered me
(There were times when I forgot but you remembered me)

You remembered only that wedding bells would ring
You remembered only to count the days till spring
You knew only love and honor but I couldn't see
I regret that I forgot cause you remembered me
(I regret that I forgot cause you remembered me)
[ guitar ]
I believed that promises were made to break apart
But every time I broke a vow I always broke your heart
So here's to you God bless you now wherever you may be
There were times that I forgot but you remembered me
(There were times that I forgot but you remembered me)

You remembered only that wedding bells would ring...
**********

10.
I'M FREE FROM THE CHAIN GANG NOW
(Lou Hersher - Saul Kelin)
� � '62 Southern Music, ASCAP �

I got rid of the shackles that bound me
And the guards that were always around me
There were tears on the mail mother sent me in jail
But I'm free from the chain gang now

Back home I was known and respected
Then one day I was wrongly suspected
So they put me in chains in a cold freezin' rain
But I'm free from the chain gang now
[ guitar ]
All the years I was known by a number
How I kept my mind is a wonder
And the bare prison cell that was one step from hell
But I'm free from the chain gang now

I prayed that the gossip will spare me
When I return to the one I will marry
Like a bird in a tree I got my liberty
And I'm free from the chain gang now
**********

11.
LET ME DOWN EASY
(Tompall Glaser - Jim Glaser)
� � '62 Johnny Bienstock Music, BMI �

Let me down easy if you must go
Why not deceive me it won't hurt me so
Truth is so painful tell me a lie
Let me down easy and I'll get by
Let me down easy for old time's sake
Is it too much to ask when my heart's gonna break
I'm bound to lose you I'm bound to cry
Oh let me down easy and I'll get by
[ guitar ]
Let me down easy..
**********

12.
SING IT PRETTY SUE
(Johnny Cash)
� � '62 Anne Rachel Music, ASCAP / Song Of Cash Music, ASCAP �

So you gave up all between us for a glamorous carear
And with all your talent you should be the big star of the year
Then you'll be public property so I release my claim to you
Go on and give 'em all you've got sing it pretty Sue

I can't take just part of you and give the world a half
So Smile for all the papers and give 'em autographs
Go on to all the cities so your public can see you
But I'll watch on television so sing it pretty Sue
[ guitar ]
I hope you'll soon be on the top of every hitparade
I'll try to be excited bout the progress that you've made
I'll collect your pictures like any fan would do
And I'll buy all your records so sing it pretty Sue

But I won't ever tell a soul that we have ever met
I'll just be one of millions who'll give the praise you get
And maybe every year or so I'll drop a card to you
To tell you I'm still listening so sing it pretty Sue
**********

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