In this inspiring collection, Johnny Cash turned his attention from the popular songs that have made him one of the brightest stars of today to the simpler songs of faith and devotion, presenting a program that combines religious feeling with music in splendid fashion. There are many fine hymns to choose from, and sometimes the old favorites are too often chosen, at the expense of the excellent new religious songs being written every day. For this program, Johnny Cash has chosen a few old favorites and some splendid new creations, including several he composed himself.
Johnny Cash, in fact, began his remarkable career as a composer, jotting down musical ideas that occurred to him. He started out in his home town of Dyess, Arkansas, singing with his friends and in church, and, after the army, attended radio school. It was there that his interest in music really flowered, and he began to take his pastime seriously. At last he gathered together a few of his songs and started to call on record companies, and within a short time was signed not only as a composer but as a performer as well. His first four songs were all big hits, as were several subsequent numbers, and his records shot to the top of the best-seller lists. He joined the cast of the Grand Ole Opry, working with such stars as Marty Robbins, Carl Perkins and Ray Price, and then, with a movie career in the offing, moved to Hollywood, where he lives today, with his wife and three small daughters.
Here he is heard in his selection of hymns, singing them reverently and fervently, and investing them with deep meaning. Among the songs are It Was Jesus, formerly called Who Was. It and the ever-moving Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, sung in his own arrangement. The hymns which he himself has written include It Was Jesus, Are All the Children In (written with Oliver Greene), The Old Account, I Called Him (written with E. Roy Cash, Sr.), He'll Be a Friend and Lead Me, Father. No one can listen to Johnny Cash singing these hymns, or the others in this program, without sensing at once the warm blend of artistry and sincerity that has so quickly made him a star, and no one can listen without sharing in that sincerity.
JOHNNY CASH
HYMNS BY JOHNNY CASH
Columbia CS-8125May/1959
Produced by Don Law & Frank Jones
Luther Perkins - guitarMarshall Grant - bass
Buddy Harman - drums
Marvin Hughes - piano
Recorded:
July 24/1958, Bradley Film & Recording Studio, Nashville (1)
Aug 13/1958, Bradley Film & Recording Studio, Nashville (5)
Jan 23/1959, Bradley Film & Recording Studio, Nashville (2-4,6-12)
1.
IT WAS JESUS
(Johnny Cash)« © '59 Anne Rachel Music, ASCAP / Song Of Cash Music, ASCAP »
Well a man walked down by Galilee so the Holy Book does say
And a great multitude was gathered there without a thing to eat for days
Up stepped a little boy with the basket please take it Lord he said
And with just a five loaves and two little fishes five thousand had fish and bread
Who was it everybody (it was Jesus) who was it everybody (it was Jesus)
Who was it everybody (it was Jesus) it was Jesus Christ our Lord
Now pay close attention little children it's somebody you ought to know
It's all about a man that walked on earth nearly two thousand years ago
Well he healed the sick and afflicted it and he raised 'em from the dead
Then they nailed him on an old rugged cross and put thorns on his head
Who was it everybody...
Well they took him down and they buried him and after the third day
When they came to his tomb where they knew he was gone
Cause the stone was rolled away
He's not here for he is risen the angel of the Lord then said
And when they saw him walking with these nail-scared hands
They knew he came back from the dead
Who was it everybody...
**********
2.
I SAW A MAN
(Arthur Smith)« © '56 Clay Music, BMI »
Last night I dreamed an angel came he took my hand he called my name
He bid me look the other way I saw a man I heard him say
He said if I be lifted up I'll draw all men to me
He turned and then I saw the nail-scared hands that bled for me
I touched the hem of his garment that fell round him there
My life my heart I gave my soul was in his care
When I awoke my heart beat so and in the dark I saw a glow
This was no dream he turned my way again I heard my Saviour say
He said if I be lifted up...
(In his care)
**********
3.
ARE ALL THE CHILDREN IN
(Craig Starret - Johnny Cash)« © '59 House Of Cash, BMI / Unichappell Music, BMI »
When I'm alone I often think of an old house on the hill
Of a big yard hedged in roses where we ran and played at will
And when the night time brought us home hushing our merry din
Mother would look around and ask are all the children in
Well it's been many a year now and the old house on the hill
No longer has my mother's care and the yard is still so still
But if I listen I can hear it all no matter how long it's been
I seem to hear my mother ask are all the children in
And I wonder when the curtain falls on that last earthly day
When we say goodbye to all of this to our pain and work and play
When we step across the river where mother so long has been
Will we hear ask her a final time are all the children in (I come)
**********
4.
OLD ACCOUNT
(arr. Johnny Cash)« © '59 Word Music, ASCAP »
Well it was a time on earth when in the books of heaven
An old account was standing for sins yet unforgiven
My name was at the top and many things below
But I went unto the keeper and settled it long ago
Long ago (down on my knees) long ago (I settled it all)
Yes the old account was settled long ago (hallelujah)
And the record's clear today cause he washed my sins away
And the old account was settled long ago
Well the old account was large and growin' every day
And I was always sinnin' and I never tried to pray
But when I looked ahead and saw such pain and woe
Well I went unto the keeper and settled it long ago
Long ago (down on my knees)...
[ guitar ] Now sinner seek the Lord repent of all your sins
Cause this he has commanded if you would enter in
And then if you should live a hundred years below
Well you know you got it settled cause you settled it long ago
Long ago (down on my knees)...
**********
5.
LEAD ME GENTLY HOME FATHER
(Will L. Thompson - Eugene Clark)« © '57 Good News Broadcasting, BMI »
Oh lead me gently home father lead me gently home
When life's toils are ended and parting days have come
Sin no more will tempt me there from Thee I'll roam
If you'll only lead me father lead me gently home
Oh lead me gently home father lead me gently home
If I fall upon the wayside lead me gently home
Lead me gently home father lead me gently home
If life's darkest hours father when my troubles come
Keep my feet from wandering there from Thee I'll roam
Lest I fall upon the wayside lead me gently home
Oh lead me gently home...
**********
6.
SWING LOW SWEET CHARIOT
(arr. Johnny Cash)« © '59 House Of Cash, BMI »
Well now I looked over Jordan and what did I see comin' for to carry me home
There was a band of angels a comin' after me comin' for to carry me home
Swing low sweet chariot comin' for to carry me home
Swing low sweet chariot comin' for to carry me home
Well I'm sometimes up and I'm sometimes down comin' for to carry me home
But I know my soul is heavenly bound comin' for to carry me home
Swing low sweet chariot...
Well now if you get there before I do comin' for to carry me home
Tell all of my friends that I'm a comin' too comin' for to carry me home
Swing low sweet chariot...
Well now they're comin' for to carry me home
**********
7.
SNOW IN HIS HAIR
(Marshall T. Pack)« © '59 House Of Cash, BMI / Unichappell Music, BMI »
The years have been many the years have been long
But at last I'm returning to daddy and home
He's looking my way though he hardly can see
God bless my old daddy he recognize me
There's snow in his hair and I helped to put it there
A halo of worry and care
As my daddy grows old he's more precious than gold
For I cherish the snow in his hair
[ guitar ] His shoulders were bent with the weight of the years
I scarcely could hold back the flood tide of tears
He walked with a cane as he hurried along coming
To meet me to welcome me home
There's snow in his hair...
**********
8.
LEAD ME FATHER
(Johnny Cash)« © '59 Anne Rachel Music, ASCAP / Song Of Cash Music, ASCAP »
When my hands are tired and my step is slow
Walk beside me and give me the strenght to go
Fill my face with your courage so defeat won't show
Pick me up when I stumble so the world won't know
Lead me Father with the staff of life
Give me the strenght for a song
That the words I sing might more strenght bring
To help some poor troubled weary worker along
When my way is light but I still can see
With a strong hand strike out the blindness in me
Show me work that I should carry on for Thee
Make my way straight and narrow like you wanted to be
Lead me Father...
**********
9.
I CALL HIM
(Johnny Cash - Ray Cash)« © '59 House Of Cash, BMI / Unichappell Music, BMI »
Well the blue's still in the water and the blue's still in the sky
And way beyond the blue there's someone watchin' from on high
My clothes may be ragged and my shoes may be worn
But I've been a wealthy boy since I've been born
Cause I call him when I'm troubled and I call him when I'm weak
And he always pulls me through my troubles some way and I believe
He'll be there (he'll be there) he'll be there (he'll be there)
Like he always is to answer when I call him
[ guitar ] My mother used to tell me I should take it slow
The pace is not what matters it's the direction that you go
Keep your feet upon the path and your eyes upon the goal
You'll have all the joy a heart could ever hold
Cause I call him when I'm troubled...
Like he always is to answer when I call him
**********
10.
THESE THINGS SHALL PASS
(Stuart Hamblen)« © '51 Songs Of Universal, BMI »
These things shall pass and some great morning
We'll look back and smile at heartaches we have known
So don't forget when shadows gather
The Lord our God is still the King upon his throne
A rose looks grey at midnight but the flame is just asleep
And steel is strong because it knew the hammer and white heat
These things shall pass and life be sweeter
When love and faith are strong they cannot long endure
These things shall pass so don't you worry
The darkest time is just one hour before dawn
So hold up high and face your troubles
And don't dispare if you must face them all alone
A rose looks grey at midnight...
(These things shall pass)
**********
11.
HE'LL BE A FRIEND
(Johnny Cash)« © '59 Anne Rachel Music, ASCAP / Song Of Cash Music, ASCAP »
Well God told Noah to build an ark he said it's gonna rain gonna be dark
Call in the animals two by two and don't let a sinful man go through
So the flood came just like he said and every evil thing on earth was dead
But Noah's faith was like a rock God laid his ark on a mountain top
He'll be a friend and guide you he'll walk along with you
He'll feel it there inside you he'll help you make it through
When things look dark Noah saw the light cause faith had told him right was might
If you need a friend he'll guide you he'll be a friend to you
Well you've heard of Samson the strong man the mightiest man in all the land
There was one purpose for his might he had to deliver the Israelites
By the Philistines he was overcome they tied him up to carry him home
But Samson prayed and his bounds were gone
He killed a thousand with an old jawbone
He'll be a friend and guide you he'll walk along with you
He'll feel it there inside you he'll help you make it through
God showed Samson what to do and it's the same God that stands by you
If you need a friend he'll guide you he'll be a friend to you
**********
12.
GOD WILL
(John D. Loudermilk - Marijohn Wilkin)« © '59 Cedarwood Publishing, BMI »
God will walk with me down streets where no one else will walk
God will talk with me of things that no one else will talk
When no one else will walk and no one else will talk when no one will God will
God will share with me the little worries no one knows are there
God will care for me whenever there is no one else to care
When no one will be there and no one else will share when no one will God will
God will think of me when friends forget and fail to understand
God will strenghten me when I am weak and need a helping hand
When no one understands or lends a helping hand
When no one will God will when no one will God will
**********
