Many of my fondest memories in life are connected to attending concerts. A couple of the shows that have had the biggest impact are the ones that I just accidentally stumbled upon. One such defining moment was when I saw Johnny Cash perform live on August 30th, 1994 at the CNE Bandstand. I was at the Canadian National Exhibition with a couple of my friends and we were starting to get bored and restless. With nothing else left to do it just happened that Johnny Cash was giving a free performance.
I knew very little about Cash except for the fact that he was some old country singer. As a teenager who was into aggressive and angst-ridden rock music, I wasn’t particularly a country music fan, found it kind of hokey. Despite my reservations, I thought that watching this washed-up country fogey might be good for some giggles. But my preconceived notions were changed. I was forced to respectfully listen with awe while the “Man in Black” blew me away and I was now a convert.
Shortly afterward, I purchased the American Recordings album, along with the The Essential Johnny Cash Boxset 1955-1983. His music was a true musical awakening that defied all genre biases. One of the things that stood out to me about Cash’s music was his social awareness. There was a definite understanding of the human experience and you can tell that he related to the plight of the common man. Here is a small sampling of ten of his songs that address social issues.
Don’t Take Your Guns To Town (1958)
This somber ballad tells the tale of a young cowboy who ignores the title advice of his mom and tragically dies in a gunfight. Not a direct protest but it does provide a cautionary tale on the glorification of gun culture. Cash himself was known to be in favor of the Second Amendment and owned several guns, but later on in his life, he was also involved with Pax, an organization dedicated to ending gun violence.
Old Apache Squaw (1959)
This song from Cash’s 1959 album Songs of our Soil, may have been his first direct protest song. The tune dealt with the mistreatment of Native Americans at the hands of white men. It is a subject he goes on to explore in greater detail with his 1964 concept protest album Bitter Tears: Ballads of the American Indian.
The Ballad of Ira Hayes (1964)
This Peter La Farge protest ballad appears on Cash’s 1964 album Bitter Tears: Ballads of the American Indian. Ira Hayes was a Native American of the Pima Tribe. He was also one of six marines who raised the flag at the World War II battle of Iwo Jima. Instead of being treated as a war hero, he returned home as a victim of discrimination and “the white man’s greed”.
White Girl (1964)
Another La Farge penned tune from the Bitter Tears album. The song addresses the stigma and challenges of interracial relationships. Both Cash’s record company and mainstream radio distanced themselves from the album. But Cash courageously stuck to his conviction even though he knew the album was going to be potentially polarizing.
San Quentin (1969)
“San Quentin” was performed for the first time during a 1969 concert at San Quentin Prison. It ended up being included on the At San Quentin album. The lyrics are from the perspective of an inmate who has to deal with the indignities of the prison. Cash was also a vocal supporter of prison reform, which included testifying to a 1972 US Senate subcommittee on the subject.
What Is Truth (1970)
This anti-Vietnam tune also took a supportive view of young people who questioned authority and who chose to go against societal norms. The lyrics also warn the older generation that “the ones that you’re calling wild, are going to be the leaders in a little while”. He also famously and defiantly performed this song at the White House, when President Richard Nixon requested a couple of more conservative-leaning country tunes.
Man In Black (1971)
By the time Johnny Cash had written and recorded the title track of his 1971 album, he was already known as the “Man in Black”. The song explains the reason for the all-black attire. He wore black as a statement of solidarity with the downtrodden. The lyrics addressed many of the social ills of that period, including the Vietnam War, poverty, racism, and injustice within the penal system. He would love to “wear a rainbow every day”, but as long as suffering exists he will continue to be the “Man in Black”.
Singing in Vietnam Talking Blues (1971)
This pointed anti-Vietnam war tune is also from the Man In Black album. The song deals with Cash visiting Vietnam to perform for the troops. The tune questions the senselessness of the war and the hope that the war will soon end. It also addresses the soldiers who may not understand why they are there and how they long to go home.
Drive On (1994)
This song is from Cash’s 1994 comeback album, American Recordings. It is written from the perspective of a Vietnam veteran who decades later still has to deal with the aftermath of the experience. The song resonates in light of the increased reports of veterans suffering from PTSD.
Redemption Song (with Joe Strummer) (2003)
Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song” is one of the most important socially conscious songs in the history of music. With that in mind, it was appropriate that two socially conscious icons would cover it. This poignant duet was released posthumously on Cash’s 2003 rarity box set Unearthed. Released just a few months after Cash’s passing and about a year after Strummer’s passing, the song was a fitting way to celebrate the lasting legacy of both artists.