John had a serious addiction problem for quite a while. He also spent some time in jail on several occasions for misdemeanor charges, but only for the night. He had a reputation as an "outlaw" so he was well received by the inmates. Two hit albums came from his shows at Folsom and San Quentin. You should listen to his Folsom Prison Blues.
Merle Haggard saw Johnny Cash perform at San Quentin Prison in 1959 while serving a two-year sentence. The concert was a turning point for Haggard, who said it helped him become a better person and focus on music. Merle ended his career with 38 #1 Country Hits while Johnny had 14.
These kinds of songs are why they loved him for playing in prisons. It's dark lyrics but meant in a fun way. Also, Cash's people said it was dangerous, but he felt completely safe playing there. None of these prisoners would ever think about harming him.
To understand the real Johnny Cash you should listen to his song THE MAN IN BLACK!!! then you will realise Johnny was a true caring man all his life who beleived in social justice for people and he fought the system all his life!!!
Johnny Cash was a strong advocate of prisoner's rights in America... He felt that many jailed felons were subjected to inhumane conditions and demanded improvement to the conditions to rehabilitate them... To show that he was serious, he would tour prisons and perform sets for the prison populations to entertain them and bring their issues to light. He did this throughout his life while he could tour. Those who knew Johnny Cash said that he related to the 'downtrodden' people who were subjected to poverty and hardships, the way he was growing up in Arkansas.
He connected with the poor and the downtrotten, the people in prison and the people in the "low end of life" great man, putting a voice for the unheard
my grandfather looked a lot like him. Drank whiskey and could charm any woman with his smile. He was gorgeous, a bit dangerous, and kind. And even Hurt reminded me of him later in years, when life had stripped him down. Cannot see Cash and not think of my wild, maddening, fun, beautiful grandfather. *** who roller skated with me, going the wrong way, with light whisky breath (i thought it was his cologne) and a cane in one hand.
Obviously Johnny’s lyrics and legend lives on for eternity, his hardship and struggles are forgiven in the end....but his music is unforgettable, thanks Maddy and many blessings always....
Johnny was a hell raiser when he was younger and struggled with several addictions (Joaquin Phoenix did a pretty good job playing him in the biopic). He had several run ins with the law, but never spent more than a night or two in jail and was never issued a sentence...but it was a very close thing on more than one occasion. He did a whole series of these prison albums starting in 1968 and they pretty much revived his career. He played at Folsom, Huntsville, PA Osteraker in Sweden, and San Quentin and he recorded his final prison album live at Tennessee State Prison, which was released after he died. He also recorded Greystone Chapel, written by an inmate at Folsom, while he was there.
Cash performed at least 30 prison concerts in the United States, including one in 1958 at San Quentin State Prison. He recorded a follow-up album at another prison, Johnny Cash at San Quentin in 1969. He also recorded a live album at a Swedish prison in 1972, Johnny Cash pa Osteraker. Cash's efforts on behalf of prisoners helped move the needle on criminal justice reform.
Maddy, cocaine in very small amounts in the original Coca-Cola was removed in 1903. The first bottle of it was developed in 1894 so it was only part of the recipe for 9 years.
Cash was always a champion of the underdog. That included inmates. When he sings this and something like "Folsom Prison Blues", he singing about their experiences. Inmates loved Cash. List to his song "Man In Black." Gives you some insight into Cash's outlook.
I would like to suggest Johnny Cash The Ballad Of Ira Hayes from the album Bitter Tears. The whole album has a Native American theme to it. I am one and that is why I am requesting this song. Thank you.
his perspective also came as a God fearing man. We are supposed to show mercy and kindness to all, even prisoners. He felt that we are forgetting that prisoners are people too, and to be mindfull of that.
Great reaction. As others have said, Johnny Cash was a rule breaker when he was young and battled with addictions throughout his life (mostly to pain killers). Some great suggestions have been made in the comments. Not all of his songs were hard core. He also did comical, inspirational songs, and love songs. It is a great catalog of work to dive into. I'll suggest a couple that I haven't seen mentioned yet. "One Piece At A Time" (humourous) and "Jackson" a duet with June Carter Cash (his wife). That said others have also made great suggestions.
The reason he performed in front of these prisoners is because he talked about things that were relatable to them in his music, and they probably loved seeing a huge star like Johnny there singing.
Johnny was busted several times for hard drugs. If you watched the "hurt" video you will understand his regrets. He put his loved ones through hell and hurt his own career. He had an extremely tough childhood and struggled with relationships. But it made for some great song material...
The inmates loved the song. He did that song as a f••• you to the warden who told him to try to not get the inmates stirred up. He was a champion of the underdog.
Maddy, Johnny Cash was a wild man. Drinking, drugging, running around with women, this guy did it all. He was always looked at as a cool guy. Even people who didn't like country music liked and respected "the man in black" (so-called because he liked to wear all black outfits). Also, Coca-Cola stopped putting cocaine in its products in 1929. Cheers! 😊
He pretty much made the prison deal happen. A lot of people were against it. His thinking was that they are still people that made mistakes and are paying their debt. Back then, some of the penalties were far worse than the crimes. He also did “A Boy named Sue “ in there. Actually an inmate at the time wrote that song and he performed it.
When I was stationed at McClellan Air Force Base in Sacramento, my wife and I went to the Folsom State Prison and visited the gift shop where the inmates made items to sell. Those gray granite walls are massive and there forever.
One of the inmates in the audience at a Cash prison concert was a troublemaker named Merle Haggard. Yes, the country music star. He said the show inspired his turnaround.
His album Folsom Prison Blues is still popular today. He was beloved by prisoners. The warden however was not pleased but Johnny did not care. One of the few men who walked the walk and talked the talk. Lastly Joaquin Phoenix does an amazing version of this song. I still think he got robbed of the Oscar.
He also played in as swedish prison. The album is called ”live at Österåker”, and you can find it on the big streaming platforms. It’s the only time he has played in a prison outside the US.
Originally written by Troy Junius Arnall and recorded by Roy Hogsed in 1947, “Cocaine Blues” was reworked from the 20th century folk ballad “Little Sadie.” Johnny would also sing gospel songs later in these prison sets like Greystone Chapel and Peace In The Valley, singing about his relationship with the Lord, and I think those songs made more of an impact with this particular crowd because of how he identified with them earlier on.
My favorite politically correct song. I've always loved this entire album. Coca Cola had trace amounts of cocaine from coca leaves in the early 1900s, by 1929 it had eliminated all trace amounts of cocaine.
Cash was seven times in prision himself - but only for several hours. But he got a connection to the inmates and wanted to help them ... great guy! And as others already mentioned: Do the song "A Boy Named Sue" - it's more like a funny song, but with a meaning, of course.
It would be a longer video, but the movie "Walk The Line" would give you a lot of insight into Johnny Cash, and has most of his best songs, all in one place.
The live album from Cash's 1968 Folsom Prison concert included: Folsom Prison Blues (where his character is a sentenced murderer) Dark as the Dungeon Cocaine Blues 25 Minutes to Go (where he's counting down the minutes before he hangs) I Got Stripes (prison song) Green Green Grass of Home (a convict dreams of going home, then awakes and remembers he's to be executed that day and after that he "will" go home) ...and a few others in a similar vein The live album from his 1969 concert at San Quentin Prison included: Wanted Man Wreck of the Old 97 Starkville City Jail San Quentin (a critique of the criminal justice system) A Boy Named Sue (in which his character tries to kill his father) and... Folsom Prison Blues, again So yeah, as a former convict himself, he was going for the jugular and building rapport with the prisoners
What so many of you youngsters do not understand or know is that many of the Country singers back then have done time or committed crimes. They weren't the angels that most later artists are. They were flawed humans just like us.
if you watch walk the line movie that explains a lot Johny Cash had drug and alcohol addiction his church told him not to sing that song at prison and he told said to them the date and time he's going to sing it
Folsom isn't/wasn't just A prison. It was THE prison. The roughest of them all at the time and probably still in the top 3 of rough prisons. It was and still is where the baddest of the bad end up. Several people are there for life and several have been executed there. A song like this will resonate with inmates though and it was a huge success!
This is the only live album I will listen to. The entire album is great. If you have a chance to see the documentary/filming of his concert in Folsom, it is very interesting. He was just trying to bring some joy from the outside world to men that were probably not going to see the outside for a long time. I hope you get to check out both.
You should do “Ring of Fire,” probably his best song. Also do “Delia,” or maybe “I Walk the Line.” All of his stuff with the Highwaymen is gold too-like “Highwayman” itself.
He supported them for their bad decisions in life. He empathized with men (in this case) who made bad decisions in life and those who were wanted to right their lives. Johnny made many bad decisions in his life so he wanted to give back.
What I find really interesting is that Joaquin Phoenix did not play Johnny Cash by any kind of mistake. Reportedly, Johnny Cash saw Gladiator with Russell Crowe and paid special attention to Phoenix. Johnny is quoted (not sure if verbatim) "I want _that boy_ to play me. He seems dangerous."
@MaddyReactions If I had any real suggestions for a song to hear, I recommend _The Rain Song_ by Led Zeppelin. I'm not making special requests for a reaction video, but it makes you feel warm and kind of sad at the same time. It's on an album called "Houses of the Holy."
He only did a couple of nights in jail for misdemeanors. The only real "outlaw" of that era was Merle Haggard, who was in the audience for Johnny Cash's San Quentin concert. During that show, Haggard realized what he wanted to do for a living when he got out of prison, and he actually did it.
Ok first, you are shockingly beautiful 😍. I love you're reactions, the feeling of the songs spell out on your face before you even speak. Your doing great keep them coming.
John had a serious addiction problem for quite a while. He also spent some time in jail on several occasions for misdemeanor charges, but only for the night. He had a reputation as an "outlaw" so he was well received by the inmates. Two hit albums came from his shows at Folsom and San Quentin. You should listen to his Folsom Prison Blues.
Oh wow!
He did it all and did it with famous people you probably know.
He did it all and did it with famous people you probably know.
My fave johnny cash is a boy called sue great track
@@markbright684 Life ain't easy for a boy named sue.
Merle Haggard saw Johnny Cash perform at San Quentin Prison in 1959 while serving a two-year sentence. The concert was a turning point for Haggard, who said it helped him become a better person and focus on music. Merle ended his career with 38 #1 Country Hits while Johnny had 14.
These kinds of songs are why they loved him for playing in prisons. It's dark lyrics but meant in a fun way. Also, Cash's people said it was dangerous, but he felt completely safe playing there. None of these prisoners would ever think about harming him.
To understand the real Johnny Cash you should listen to his song THE MAN IN BLACK!!!
then you will realise Johnny was a true caring man all his life who beleived in social justice for people and he fought the system all his life!!!
Ohh
@@MaddyReactions Yes definitely do The man in black!
MAN IN BLACK🤘
Johnny Cash was a strong advocate of prisoner's rights in America... He felt that many jailed felons were subjected to inhumane conditions and demanded improvement to the conditions to rehabilitate them... To show that he was serious, he would tour prisons and perform sets for the prison populations to entertain them and bring their issues to light. He did this throughout his life while he could tour.
Those who knew Johnny Cash said that he related to the 'downtrodden' people who were subjected to poverty and hardships, the way he was growing up in Arkansas.
He connected with the poor and the downtrotten, the people in prison and the people in the "low end of life" great man, putting a voice for the unheard
Walk the Line is pretty accurate film, account, for context
Oooh!!
Yeah, that's Johnny Cash. He's the man in black!
That song is nearly 100 years old .., the original country western swing performers use to play this song .
Johnny Cash was a wild man.
Wow!
my grandfather looked a lot like him. Drank whiskey and could charm any woman with his smile. He was gorgeous, a bit dangerous, and kind. And even Hurt reminded me of him later in years, when life had stripped him down. Cannot see Cash and not think of my wild, maddening, fun, beautiful grandfather. *** who roller skated with me, going the wrong way, with light whisky breath (i thought it was his cologne) and a cane in one hand.
You have to hear , A Boy Name Sue , think from same performance, you would get a kick out of it 👍✌️💜
Ooohh
@@MaddyReactions The Folsom Prison performance of A Boy Named Sue has video and audio.
I hate that song! It was popular when I was young.my dad would call me Susie anytime he wanted me to toughen up.it always worked😂😁😂
@@MaddyReactions "A Boy Named Sue" is a must!
Obviously Johnny’s lyrics and legend lives on for eternity, his hardship and struggles are forgiven in the end....but his music is unforgettable, thanks Maddy and many blessings always....
"A Boy Named Sue' and 'Folsom Prison Blues" are two must listens by Johnny Cash.
Johnny was a hell raiser when he was younger and struggled with several addictions (Joaquin Phoenix did a pretty good job playing him in the biopic). He had several run ins with the law, but never spent more than a night or two in jail and was never issued a sentence...but it was a very close thing on more than one occasion.
He did a whole series of these prison albums starting in 1968 and they pretty much revived his career. He played at Folsom, Huntsville, PA Osteraker in Sweden, and San Quentin and he recorded his final prison album live at Tennessee State Prison, which was released after he died. He also recorded Greystone Chapel, written by an inmate at Folsom, while he was there.
Johnny took Linda Ronstadt with him to a prison show where she sang "You're No Good" to the convicts. LOL. They seemed to love it. (it's on youtube)
Cash performed at least 30 prison concerts in the United States, including one in 1958 at San Quentin State Prison. He recorded a follow-up album at another prison, Johnny Cash at San Quentin in 1969. He also recorded a live album at a Swedish prison in 1972, Johnny Cash pa Osteraker.
Cash's efforts on behalf of prisoners helped move the needle on criminal justice reform.
Maddy, cocaine in very small amounts in the original Coca-Cola was removed in 1903. The first bottle of it was developed in 1894 so it was only part of the recipe for 9 years.
Ahh!!
Cash was always a champion of the underdog. That included inmates. When he sings this and something like "Folsom Prison Blues", he singing about their experiences. Inmates loved Cash. List to his song "Man In Black." Gives you some insight into Cash's outlook.
He did songs like this to show his audience that he was one of them, in his heart ❤
This was a crazy song for an artist to sing in his genre and time. He was always at odds with the corporate money.
I would like to suggest Johnny Cash The Ballad Of Ira Hayes from the album Bitter Tears. The whole album has a Native American theme to it. I am one and that is why I am requesting this song. Thank you.
Cash received a lot of fan mail from the inmates. He felt it was important to perform for them.
his perspective also came as a God fearing man. We are supposed to show mercy and kindness to all, even prisoners. He felt that we are forgetting that prisoners are people too, and to be mindfull of that.
Great reaction. As others have said, Johnny Cash was a rule breaker when he was young and battled with addictions throughout his life (mostly to pain killers). Some great suggestions have been made in the comments. Not all of his songs were hard core. He also did comical, inspirational songs, and love songs. It is a great catalog of work to dive into. I'll suggest a couple that I haven't seen mentioned yet. "One Piece At A Time" (humourous) and "Jackson" a duet with June Carter Cash (his wife). That said others have also made great suggestions.
Folson Prison Blues is worth a listen if you want to understand a little bit more about who he was.
Walk The Line is a great movie and his live performance of The Man In Black is legendary. After I watched those I was like “oh nowww I get it” lol
Cash spent 7 separate nights in jail. 7 misdemeanors. Never prison.
In the end its just good a song he played to make those prisoners in folsom happy for a change. Cheers!
The reason he performed in front of these prisoners is because he talked about things that were relatable to them in his music, and they probably loved seeing a huge star like Johnny there singing.
Johnny was busted several times for hard drugs. If you watched the "hurt" video you will understand his regrets. He put his loved ones through hell and hurt his own career. He had an extremely tough childhood and struggled with relationships. But it made for some great song material...
' The Man in Black ' should be a great one to react to. Thank you Maddy
Maddy swaying in her red dress never gets old!❤
I don't care what song she is doing, I'm just here to watch her sway!😍
1:13 he is singing this song because he has a captive audience. Best I can do. he also had an addiction to amphetamines.
Maddyisms - “Why is he singing this to prisoners?” Valid point….lol. Times were much different back then. 😂❤🙏
🤣🤣🤣
Iconic and amazing song by the Legend!!! A true Country Outlaw! Maddy you are so lovely and captivating aa always!! 🌹🌹❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
The inmate asked if that song would be on the album. Johny replied “I doubt that”
That was a great reaction video Maddy! I must add that your beautiful face and smile touches my heart and soul! ;-)
The inmates loved the song. He did that song as a f••• you to the warden who told him to try to not get the inmates stirred up. He was a champion of the underdog.
This was exactly what I was going to say
Something like
Warden - Don't sing songs to remind them where they are.
Johnny -You think they forgot
Maddy, Johnny Cash was a wild man. Drinking, drugging, running around with women, this guy did it all. He was always looked at as a cool guy. Even people who didn't like country music liked and respected "the man in black" (so-called because he liked to wear all black outfits). Also, Coca-Cola stopped putting cocaine in its products in 1929. Cheers! 😊
They realised they didn’t have to…. Caffeine and Sugar were addictive enough.
He pretty much made the prison deal happen. A lot of people were against it. His thinking was that they are still people that made mistakes and are paying their debt. Back then, some of the penalties were far worse than the crimes. He also did “A Boy named Sue “ in there. Actually an inmate at the time wrote that song and he performed it.
I’m not sure if you’re referring to A Boy Named Sue, or Cocaine Blues, but neither song was written by an inmate.
Aussie band Cold Chisel was also known for doing gigs in jails. They even wrote a song about being in jail, Four Walls.
When I was stationed at McClellan Air Force Base in Sacramento, my wife and I went to the Folsom State Prison and visited the gift shop where the inmates made items to sell. Those gray granite walls are massive and there forever.
He's got a folsom prison album, must listen. Man in Black was great. Thanks Maddy
One of the inmates in the audience at a Cash prison concert was a troublemaker named Merle Haggard. Yes, the country music star. He said the show inspired his turnaround.
His album Folsom Prison Blues is still popular today. He was beloved by prisoners. The warden however was not pleased
but Johnny did not care. One of the few men who walked the walk and talked the talk. Lastly Joaquin Phoenix does an amazing
version of this song. I still think he got robbed of the Oscar.
He also played in as swedish prison. The album is called ”live at Österåker”, and you can find it on the big streaming platforms. It’s the only time he has played in a prison outside the US.
It's a love song.
Originally written by Troy Junius Arnall and recorded by Roy Hogsed in 1947, “Cocaine Blues” was reworked from the 20th century folk ballad “Little Sadie.”
Johnny would also sing gospel songs later in these prison sets like Greystone Chapel and Peace In The Valley, singing about his relationship with the Lord, and I think those songs made more of an impact with this particular crowd because of how he identified with them earlier on.
GREAT ASSESSMENT MADDIE👍🏻👍🏻
I think Johnny knows what he sings about. Fun reaction. Thanks Maddy.
In Cash songs no one escapes the consequences of their actions.
I like that!
Country is all about stories, not necessarily true stories! Johnny’s best was “a boy named sue” all about the mud the blood and the beer!
He was just lucky to be singing there instead of living there. He was a wildman.
I have been watching a few of these random reactions recently she seems pretty genuine
I knew a couple guys from my teenage years who went down this road. Sadly enough, both died in prison.
Johnny is in Rock & Roll HOF
Country HOF and songwriter HOF
He started at Sun Studio in Memphis in mid 50s at the same time ELVIS was there
Bad Ass !
My favorite politically correct song. I've always loved this entire album.
Coca Cola had trace amounts of cocaine from coca leaves in the early 1900s, by 1929 it had eliminated all trace amounts of cocaine.
It's a song - it's called story telling- writing- a cautionary tale
Cash was seven times in prision himself - but only for several hours. But he got a connection to the inmates and wanted to help them ... great guy!
And as others already mentioned: Do the song "A Boy Named Sue" - it's more like a funny song, but with a meaning, of course.
Boy Named Sue
One Piece At A Time
This was already an established song that his fans were already familiar with.
Love your reaction and comments, Maddy!
Glad you like them!
Johnny is the G O A T !
It would be a longer video, but the movie "Walk The Line" would give you a lot of insight into Johnny Cash, and has most of his best songs, all in one place.
My beautiful Maddy ❤❤❤❤❤❤
This was the first album I bought with my own money in 1968
This song will cause early onset insanity
Shuladaa💋🔥🌹
Maddy!!!💞💞
🩷
He does a whole album at Folsom Prison. Recorded live. Thats just one song.
The live album from Cash's 1968 Folsom Prison concert included:
Folsom Prison Blues (where his character is a sentenced murderer)
Dark as the Dungeon
Cocaine Blues
25 Minutes to Go (where he's counting down the minutes before he hangs)
I Got Stripes (prison song)
Green Green Grass of Home (a convict dreams of going home, then awakes and remembers he's to be executed that day and after that he "will" go home)
...and a few others in a similar vein
The live album from his 1969 concert at San Quentin Prison included:
Wanted Man
Wreck of the Old 97
Starkville City Jail
San Quentin (a critique of the criminal justice system)
A Boy Named Sue (in which his character tries to kill his father)
and... Folsom Prison Blues, again
So yeah, as a former convict himself, he was going for the jugular and building rapport with the prisoners
Wow!!
What so many of you youngsters do not understand or know is that many of the Country singers back then have done time or committed crimes. They weren't the angels that most later artists are. They were flawed humans just like us.
Johnny Cash!
Yes!!
@@MaddyReactions it was 2 shows in the prison @1968 for the album
John suffered from addiction for years , and then found God.
if you watch walk the line movie that explains a lot Johny Cash had drug and alcohol addiction his church told him not to sing that song at prison and he told said to them the date and time he's going to sing it
Folsom isn't/wasn't just A prison. It was THE prison. The roughest of them all at the time and probably still in the top 3 of rough prisons. It was and still is where the baddest of the bad end up. Several people are there for life and several have been executed there. A song like this will resonate with inmates though and it was a huge success!
Boy name Sue and Folsom prison blues. He sang them both at the Folsom prison of course and I think he also did it at San Quentin.
He is so good. He's a singer what else. Great song. He was in jail back himself. I dont know when
This is the only live album I will listen to. The entire album is great. If you have a chance to see the documentary/filming of his concert in Folsom, it is very interesting. He was just trying to bring some joy from the outside world to men that were probably not going to see the outside for a long time. I hope you get to check out both.
You should do “Ring of Fire,” probably his best song. Also do “Delia,” or maybe “I Walk the Line.” All of his stuff with the Highwaymen is gold too-like “Highwayman” itself.
He supported them for their bad decisions in life. He empathized with men (in this case) who made bad decisions in life and those who were wanted to right their lives. Johnny made many bad decisions in his life so he wanted to give back.
Playing outlaw music to the outlaws. Seems appropriate to me.
What I find really interesting is that Joaquin Phoenix did not play Johnny Cash by any kind of mistake. Reportedly, Johnny Cash saw Gladiator with Russell Crowe and paid special attention to Phoenix. Johnny is quoted (not sure if verbatim)
"I want _that boy_ to play me. He seems dangerous."
i will have to watch that one
@MaddyReactions If I had any real suggestions for a song to hear, I recommend _The Rain Song_ by Led Zeppelin. I'm not making special requests for a reaction video, but it makes you feel warm and kind of sad at the same time. It's on an album called "Houses of the Holy."
Welcome 😊 Johnny The MAN
My favourite Johnny Cash song is ‘Man in White’.
No cash was never in as an inmate he did spend a few nights in local jail to dry out on a few seperate occasions.
MR Cash did time and his story is all about redemption no matter how far you fall!
He only did a couple of nights in jail for misdemeanors. The only real "outlaw" of that era was Merle Haggard, who was in the audience for Johnny Cash's San Quentin concert. During that show, Haggard realized what he wanted to do for a living when he got out of prison, and he actually did it.
Ok first, you are shockingly beautiful 😍.
I love you're reactions, the feeling of the songs spell out on your face before you even speak. Your doing great keep them coming.
Thank you so much!!
@MaddyReactions ❤️
The song showed the prisoners that Johnny was one with them. Several performers were ex-cons, including Johnny.
For a great look at different sides of Johnny Cash, Check out two songs: "The Man In Black" and "A Boy Named Sue." The man is an icon.
This song is 60 -65 years old.
Coca Cola - Coca stands for cocaine. Cola is for caffeine, taken from the kola nut.
So in the audience, one of the inmates was a future country music star named Johnny Paycheck.
🤣
@@MaddyReactions seriously, Johnny Paycheck...... "Take this job and shove it" was a hit of his.
Wait really!?
My favorite song by him is FOLSOM PRISON BLUES.
He should have added leave the bad B's alone!
Jonny commits three felonies in the first 30 seconds…….
Awesome reaction.
they loved him in folsom and why not , you think they don't know why they are there.
Cocaine in coke was more like 1890's !
Maddy you're completely stunning in anything you wear
Thank you.